Malala Yousafzai (you-sahf-ZIGH) became the youngest recipient ever of the Nobel Peace Prize. She was awarded the honor for her work in drawing global attention toward threats to girls’ education in Pakistan, her home country. Malala shared the honor with Kailash Satyarthi, a children’s rights activist of India. Eight of the many major points of Malala’s acceptance speech include:

One: Her expression of gratitude for the award and for the worldwide support, encouragement, and love, which inspires and strengthens her. Malala said that she was pretty certain that she is the first recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize who still fights with her younger brothers. “I want there to be peace everywhere, but my brothers and I are still working on that.”

Two: She acknowledged the work of Kailash, co-recipient of the award.

Three: Malala explained, “This award is not just for me. It is for those forgotten children who want education… peace… and change.”

Four: “It is time to take action so it becomes the last time that we see a child deprived of education… We have already taken many steps. Now it is time to take a leap” (to provide 12 years of education, free, for all children).

Five: “Education is one of the blessings of life, one of its necessities.”

Six: “I dedicate the Nobel Peace Prize money to the Malala Fund to help give girls quality education, everywhere, anywhere in the world and to raise their voices. The first place this funding will go is where my heart is, to build schools in Pakistan…”

Seven: “Why is it that countries which we call strong are so powerful in creating wars but so weak in bringing peace? Why is it that giving guns is so easy but giving books is so hard?”

Eight: We must all work to give every child quality education. Let’s begin today to end the injustices toward children particularly girls. “It is our duty.”

(Oslo, Norway: Dec. 2014)

Malala’s entire speech may be read at:
www.Malala.org