Happy belated birthday to the youngest-ever Nobel laureate, co-founder and executive chair of Malala Fund, and all-around icon! 🎁 We must have gotten mixed up, though, because Malala Yousafzai (she/her) ended up giving us a gift instead of the other way around. In honor of her 27th year, Malala reflected on her work to share some of her achievements, the challenges she’s faced along the way, as well as what’s ahead for her and her org.

THREE ACHIEVEMENTS:
Handing girls the microphone
Girls understand the power of education. Wherever their access to education is limited or denied, they are the first on the frontlines to fight for their right to learn. I know that if we match their determination, fund their work and follow their lead, so much progress is possible. And I know from my own experience that having others who were willing to amplify my story and my demands was critical to my success. None of us can do this work alone. So any time I can, I hand over the microphone to girls. I have invited them to join me in meetings with decision-makers and world leaders or used my platform to share their perspectives. I am proud to help to amplify their work to hold leaders accountable and advance girls’ education.

Building a network of activists through Malala Fund
My story began in Pakistan, where I spoke out against the Taliban and hoped the world would listen. Now, ten years later, my organization Malala Fund is amplifying the voices and work of activists all over the world to break down the barriers girls face in access to education. As just one example: Right now, girls in Afghanistan are living under the Taliban’s brutal oppression—the only country in the world where girls are banned from going to school past grade six, as part of a system of gender apartheid. But girls keep courageously resisting. Malala Fund is funding organizations helping them learn through alternative methods like TV, radio, and digital platforms while schools remain closed. We are also helping our network of Afghan activists fight for global recognition of gender apartheid, create real tools to hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes, and refuse to let world leaders ignore what is happening.

Supporting programmes that help girls learn
I see firsthand the impact of Malala Fund programs that benefit girls around the world and I am proud of each additional dollar invested in helping more girls learn and choose their own futures. Today, more than 120M girls are still not in school so I am focusing our organization’s efforts on the places where girls face the greatest challenges and where we can have the biggest impact, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria. As I turn 27, I look back with gratitude for the people who joined this fight and look forward to all the work we have yet to accomplish—I hope you join us.

TWO LESSONS LEARNED:
Change is possible—but it takes a community
When I was 16, I took the stage at the United Nations to say that, “One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.” Since then, I have learned that one child—even with the best resources and biggest platform—needs a community to change the world. And once that community comes together, real change is possible. When we join forces, we can move closer to a world where every child has access to 12 years of quality education. We can put real pressure on governments and support girls to express themselves, fight oppression, and learn.

We must demand better from our leaders
While there is an economic imperative for governments to ensure full, free, and safe access to education for all girls, it is also one of their most basic responsibilities. Too often, leaders get away with simply saying nice words without following through with action. At Malala Fund, we push governments to enact the right policies and invest the necessary resources while also holding them to account for delivery. I am equally committed to supporting activists working to shift social norms, rejecting the false premises of “culture, “tradition,” or “religion” that are too often used as excuses to hold girls back from learning. Working as a community of advocates, we must push back against the excuses for inaction that are all too common and build systems of accountability that will lead to real change. You can join us too, and support this work with a donation.

ONE THING TO LOOK FORWARD TO:
Powering the movement forward with girls
My activism has benefitted from building community with other young feminist leaders. Wherever I go, from Pakistan to Nigeria to Brazil to right here at home in the UK, I meet girls and young women whose stories are so close to my own, even if their circumstances differ. They share their journeys and the tools they use to fight adversity, break down barriers, and support access to education for their communities. These experiences give me strength and optimism, and the partnerships we build are what help us move resources effectively, push governments and leaders in the right direction, and create lasting change. When I look ahead to the future, I get excited for the time I get to spend learning from the girls and young women activists. They inspire me with their bold, fresh ideas and I know they will keep powering our movement forward.