Malala Yousafzai (born 1997) is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Malala is from the Swat Valley in northwest Pakistan, where the local Taliban has banned girls from attending school. Malala, whose family ran a chain of local schools, publicly stood against the Taliban's actions and launched an international movement, surviving an assassination attempt by the Taliban on October 9th, 2012. The article discusses this incredible young woman and her continuing advocation for universal women's education.
Pair “Malala Yousafzai: A Normal Yet Powerful Girl” with “Drum Dream Girl” and ask students to compare the father in each text. How do the fathers contribute to the dreams of their daughters? How do Malala and the speaker in “Drum Dream Girl” work to create change? Why is it important to view Malala and the girl in “Drum Dream Girl” as both normal and amazing? Why is it important for girls to know that they can create change and achieve their goals?