Page 21 - 2021-bfw-shea-all-2e

Speech to the United Nations Youth Assembly

Malala Yousafzai skill workshop

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai (b. 1997) is a Pakistani
woman who, at the age of eleven, began writing a blog about the FRANCK ROBICHON/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstocks
hardships of her life under Taliban rule, specifically addressing the
Taliban’s ban on education for girls. Though she protected her identity
with a pseudonym, her writing soon became widely read and led to
appearances on television, where Yousafzai spoke out for education
rights for girls around the world. On October 9, 2012, the Taliban made
an attempt to assassinate Yousafzai while she was riding a bus home
from school. She was shot in the head but survived the attack and has since become a
symbol for social justice, human rights, and resistance to Taliban rule.
KEY CONTEXT On July 12, 2013, young people were given control of the United Nations for the
first time in the sixty-eight-year history of the organization. More than one hundred organizations
came together along with hundreds of young education advocates from around the world, including
Malala Yousafzai, who made her first public speech since recovering from the Taliban’s assassination
attempt. Below is the speech she gave on that day.

FOCUS FOR READING As you give this speech a first reading, annotate the text by making
connections and asking question (see Ch. 1). Then, go back and annotate it again looking
specifically for moments in which her argument relies on descriptions of her own personal
experiences, also called anecdotes, and comment on how those descriptions support her
argument.
ear brothers and sisters, do remember one Their right to equality of opportunity.
Dthing. Malala Day is not my day. Today is Their right to be educated.
the day of every woman, every boy and every girl Dear Friends, on the 9th of October 2012, 10
who have raised their voice for their rights. There the Taliban shot me on the left side of my
are hundreds of human rights activists and social forehead. They shot my friends too. They
workers who are not only speaking for human thought that the bullets would silence us. But
rights, but who are struggling to achieve their goals they failed. And then, out of that silence came
of education, peace and equality. Thousands of thousands of voices. The terrorists thought that
people have been killed by the terrorists and they would change our aims and stop our
millions have been injured. I am just one of them. ambitions but nothing changed in my life except
So here I stand . . . one girl among many. this: Weakness, fear and hopelessness died.
I speak — not for myself, but for all girls and Strength, power and courage [were] born. I am
boys. the same Malala. My ambitions are the same. My
I raise up my voice — not so that I can shout, hopes are the same. My dreams are the same.
but so that those without a voice can be heard. Dear sisters and brothers, I am not against
Those who have fought for their rights: 5 anyone. Neither am I here to speak in terms of
Their right to live in peace. personal revenge against the Taliban or any
Their right to be treated with dignity. other terrorist group. I am here to speak up for

5 5
Copyright © Bedford/St. Martin’s. Uncorrected proofs have been used in this sample chapter.
Distributed by BFW Publishers. Strictly for use with its products. Not for redistribution.

sheaall2e_24428_ch05_002_095.indd 5 09/07/20 5:30 PM