Growing up in a remote part of Pakistan, Malala realised aged 12 that girls shouldn't just stay at home. So she started campaigning for schools to let them in, becoming so effective that Taliban gunmen ambushed her school bus. She bounced right back from her injuries to persuade Pakistan's president to fund poor families who send their girls to study. Now she's taking her call global and we can help her tell governments that girls' education is the single best investment to lift families and countries out of poverty and conflict.
She's an incredibly strong young woman. But when Malala steps up to the podium at the United Nations this Friday we can make her even stronger. Sign now to salute Malala's courage and lend her your voice:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/every_child_in_school_s/?bwQkDab&v=26844
Education is in massive crisis. Donors have slashed their budgets, reversing the past decade's gains on universal education. It's a devastating setback but one we know we can make right. All it takes is $26 billion (that sounds like a lot but the US spends double that on nuclear weapons every year) and a commitment from world leaders.
Malala will meet with the UN Secretary General and work with an army of youth delegates from around the globe to lobby the UN Security Council to pass a resolution to recognize the global education crisis and list concrete steps to promote education for all. Here are top lines from the plan:
- guarantee equality for girls, as well as marginalized youth who are disproportionately denied education
- provide rigorous training for teachers
- increase education funding with more aid from donors
- get all countries to target their spending better so we can guarantee every child has at least 9 years education
http://www.avaaz.org/en/every_child_in_school_s/?bwQkDab&v=26844
When Malala was shot, Avaaz members around the world rallied to her support, forcing the Pakistan government to announce a stipend programme to put kids back in school. We can do it again now to make sure the Malala magic works around the world.
With hope and determination,
Dalia, Pascal, Julien, Alaphia, Ricken, Ian, Sam, Luis, Wen and the entire Avaaz team
PS - Many Avaaz campaigns are started by members of our community! Start yours now and win on any issue - local, national or global: http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/start_a_petition/?bgMYedb&v=23917
MORE INFORMATION:
Reductions in Aid Jeopardise Schooling for Millions of Children (Huffington post)
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/pauline-rose/education-aid-reductions-jeopardise-schooling_b_3413691.html
Drop in aid for primary schools puts education MDG at risk (The Guardian)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2013/jun/11/drop-aid-primary-schools-mdg-risk
Poorly-educated worst off in economic crisis (EU observer)
http://euobserver.com/education/120636
Malala's global voice stronger than ever (CNN)
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/30/world/malala-girls-education
Education For All Global Monitoring Report (UNESCO)
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/efareport/
The Youth Resolution: The Education We Want (draft)
http://www.worldwewant2015.org/node/352851
Supreme Court orders probe into Pakistan's 'ghost' schools (Dawn.com)
http://beta.dawn.com/news/785296/supreme-court-orders-probe-into-pakistans-ghost-schools