Malala Yousafzai Malala Yousafzai defended herself, her education and her fundamental rights when confronted by a fearsome terrorist group. Malala created a chain reaction around the world bringing change, light and hope to girls everywhere. Malala was born on July 12, 1997 in Mingora, Pakistan, her father is Ziauddin Yousafzai. She became an advocate for girls' education. When she was 14, a Taliban shot her in the head. Malala and her family discovered that a Taliban had made death threats against her. He had to hide his identity; he used the name Gul Makai. However, in December of the same year she was revealed to be the BBC's blogger. On October 9, 2012, while Malala was returning home when a man boarded her bus and explained who and where she was. No one said anything, but their actions gave her away. He shot her in the head; the bullet passed along her neck. The shooting left Malala in critical condition. Part of his skull was removed to treat brain swelling. Malala was brought out of a medically induced coma. He had not suffered serious brain damage. In March 2013 he was able to start attending school in Birmingham, England. A year after being shot, Malala shares her dreams and the story of her courageous recovery: "My world has changed," she says, "but I haven't." world," says Malala. "There has been discrimination in our society," which she says must be defeated. "We women will bring change. We talk about girls' rights, but we must not behave like men, as they have done in the past." Malala is known for her activism for education and women's rights. She has become the most admired children's rights activist in the world... in the middle of paper... in our books and our pens." “School is like walking through a magical door to your dreams.” "We are starving for education. For us it is like a precious gift. It is like a diamond." The Girls Declaration was created to give a voice to girls like Malala around the world, and we are honored that Malala herself signed it. Malala shows our children, and all of us, the power of a voice, the power of a child, the power of words, and the power of education. Works Cited* Malala Yousafzai My Second Life By: Dennis, Alicia, Corcoran, Liz, 10/21/2013, vol 80, Web /14 Lili.org. March 14, 2014* “Synopsis” Biography.com. A+E Television Networks, LLC. March 14, 2014* “THE FIGHTER MALALA YOUSAFZAI” by Aryn Baker; Gilder Cooke and Mehboob Ali, MAS Ultra - School edition, 12/31/2012, Web 3/13/14 Lili.org Web 14, 2014