Inspirational? Well, that would be Malala

I can’t quite remember what I did for my 16^th birthday?  I do, however, feel that whatever it was, it was nowhere near as inspiring as what Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai did for hers this year. 

Malala made headlines last year when the Taliban tried to assassinate her as she rode the bus to school, in Pakistan. She was targeted because of her fight for the right of all girls to an education.  To celebrate her birthday this year she delivered a passionate speech to the United Nations General Assembly calling on world leaders and governments to ensure free and compulsory education globally for every child, and to support the expansion of education opportunities for girls in the developing world.

There are still 57 million children out of primary school worldwide. Many live in countries embroiled in conflict. More than 120 million young people between the ages of 15 and 24 lack basic reading and writing skills, and the majority of them are young women. In short, too many young people leave school without the skills to earn a living.

Education is crucial, it is the most effective method of challenging poverty and harmful traditions such as gender-based discrimination and violence. Gender equality in education is a vital and important issue because providing education for girls helps to establish well-balanced communities and nations.

 "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world," said Nelson Mandela, and educating girls guaranties education for generations.

Malala firmly believes that we can work together to make a better future through education for all. She is an example to modern societies, where education has lost its essence and is neglected by teens. Malala's efforts remind us that education is the way to save lives, to build peace and to empower people to build a better world.

Happy Birthday, Malala.