This article by Erin Boylan of St Catherine’s College in Armagh came second in the Columban Schools Media Competition (2022) in Ireland. The theme was ‘Anyone Can Make a Difference: 21st Century Changemakers’. It is illustrated by Veronica Littlewood, also of St Catherine’s College, Armagh, who came second in the Image section of the competition.
When you hear the word ‘changemaker’, what pictures come to mind? Is it a person striving to better themselves or someone attempting to better the world? The phrase ‘changemaker’ can mean different things to different individuals; everyone has their own interpretation of the term.
According to changemakerintl.com, a changemaker is simply “someone who is taking imaginative action to solve a societal problem!” In my opinion, a changemaker who has an impact on the world cannot be restricted to a single person. Nobody can change the world on their own, but if we all work together, we will.
Globally, the bulk of the 1.2 billion individuals living in severe poverty are women and girls. Malala is a young woman who I feel is combating injustice. She is a lady with one voice and one thought that has transformed the world, and many others who have listened to her words, who have been influenced by her, have accompanied her in her fight against injustice.
Who is Malala Yousafzai?
This young woman is a legend in her own right. Malala Yousafzai, the world’s youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner, survived a gunshot to the head at point blank range. The Taliban didn’t want anyone going to school, so they shot her, because she desired that everyone have an education. Many people throughout the world are working hard to combat injustice, but Malala Yousafzai is especially crucial in the fight against injustice among women.
Malala Yousafzai was born in Pakistan’s Mingora. She began advocating for girls’ education rights when she was eleven years old. Pakistan’s education system has been dubbed “one of the world’s most incompetent.” According to ScholaroPro.com, just around 60% of students complete grades 1 to 5 in primary education.
Many of us have inspirations, and for Malala, it was her father who motivated her to advocate for women’s education. It may appear peculiar for her to advocate for education, given that in the United Kingdom, education is obligatory for all children aged 5 to 16. But what did she do to alter the global perspective on education and women’s rights? Her speech at the United Nations Youth Assembly on 12 July 2013 highlighted the ways in which she has influenced the world, with one phrase in particular demonstrating her motivation: “We want schools and education for every child’s bright future”. Currently, over 100 million children lack access to education, but now she has given a voice to many who previously had none.
She advocated for causes such as gender equality in education and women’s empowerment. Individuals have the right to an education, and her efforts have raised and addressed concerns about equality and access to education, which is yet another way she has transformed the world in so many ways.
Ways she has changed the world
– Her ability to be fearless and brave in the face of injustice.
– She created the Malala Fund.
– She has preached about forgiveness.
– Shown the significance of conflict resolution through nonviolent means.
– Led the United Nations to reaffirm its commitment to Millennium
Development Goal 2.
– Her narrative has taught children all over the globe not to take things for granted.
There’s much more she has accomplished, but this would be a novel rather than an article.
Malala Fund
It is inexcusable that anyone, anywhere in the world today, could see education as anything less than a fundamental human right, regardless of the circumstances. Malala is the cofounder of the Malala Fund.
The Malala Fund, which was founded in 2013 champions every girl’s right to a free, safe, and high-quality education for 12 years. According to the Malala Fund’s website, they work by investing in education advocates and activists who challenge policies and practices that prevent girls from attending school and participating in their communities. With over 130 million young girls out of school, Malala needs assistance to break down the barriers that prevent young girls from obtaining an appropriate education. The prominence of the Malala Fund can be seen in the $2.3 billion raised in 2018.
Taught children all over the globe not to take things for granted
Many children often take school for granted; I can vouch for that. Malala’s story, which has been published in children’s books, teaches children the importance of school, and not only children, but adults alike, to not take anything in the world for granted.
Advocated forgiveness
In her UN speech, she stated: “I do not actually hate the Talib who shot me, even if I’m holding a gun and he’s right in front of me.” She expressed forgiveness, despite the fact that they shot her. She believes that we should not hold grudges against those who have harmed us. Forgiveness accepts the unfairness. More than just that, forgiveness addresses the individual. A remark on the website Lynnhpryor.com caught my attention. It states: “What you did was terrible, but I’m not going to let that define me.”
The Catholic Church’s purpose is to carry out and continue the work of Jesus Christ on Earth. The Church and its members must always share the Word of God, support those in need, and act as examples to others. “So, there is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free people, males and women; you are all one in Christ Jesus,” (Galatians). But how does Catholic social teaching correlate to Malala?
The Malala Fund is based on the Catholic Social Teaching on human dignity, which states that “we have intrinsic worth and distinctiveness since we were made in the image and likeness of God.” Malala is an advocate for young people’s right to an education, and she believes that every human has dignity and value, and hence deserves equal opportunities and access to education.