Malala Yousafzai
Born 1997 · Age 28
Pakistani education activist, co‑founder and executive chair of the Malala Fund, author and Nobel Peace Prize laureate (born 1997).
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Life & Career Timeline
Birth in Mingora, Swat Valley
Born to Ziauddin and Toor Pekai Yousafzai in Mingora, Swat, Pakistan; named after the Afghan heroine Malalai of Maiwand.
First public speech on girls' education
Spoke at a Peshawar press club: 'How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to education?'.
Chair, District Child Assembly (Khpal Kor Foundation)
Served as chair of the District Child Assembly (approx. 2009–2010), engaging in local youth advocacy.
Began blogging for BBC Urdu as 'Gul Makai'
Published first BBC Urdu diary entry about life under Taliban rule; used pseudonym Gul Makai.
Television appearance and media advocacy (early 2009)
Made TV appearances (including Capital Talk) and continued to speak publicly about girls' education after Taliban edicts and school closures.
Displacement during Operation Rah‑e‑Rast
Family displaced when the Pakistani army launched operations against the Taliban in Swat; Malala became an internally displaced person.
New York Times documentaries filmed
Adam B. Ellick filmed two NYT documentaries about her life: 'Class Dismissed' and 'A Schoolgirl's Odyssey' that increased her profile internationally.
Met U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke
Met Holbrooke and urged international support for girls' education during the family's return to Swat.
Trained with Aware Girls; internship with Swat Relief Initiative
Underwent empowerment training with Aware Girls and interned with the Swat Relief Initiative supporting schools/clinics.
Nominated for International Children's Peace Prize
Nominated by Archbishop Desmond Tutu for KidsRights Foundation's International Children's Peace Prize—the first Pakistani girl nominated.
Awarded Pakistan's National Youth Peace Prize
Received Pakistan's first National Youth Peace Prize (later renamed National Malala Peace Prize); Prime Minister awarded her and announced educational initiatives.
Right to Education petition grows
Her activism contributed to an international petition (millions of signatures) that pressured Pakistan to ratify a Right to Education Bill.
Pakistani government offered reward for attackers
Pakistani officials announced a 10 million rupee (~US$105,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of the attackers.
Airlifted to Peshawar military hospital; major surgery
Immediately airlifted to a military hospital in Peshawar; underwent multiple life‑saving operations including removal of a bullet and decompressive craniectomy.
Assassination attempt — shot by Taliban
A masked Taliban gunman boarded her school bus in Swat and shot her in the head; two other girls wounded. The attack sparked global condemnation.
Transferred to Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology
A panel of Pakistani and British doctors decided to transfer her to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi for further treatment.
Transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham (UK)
Moved to the UK for specialist care; UK and Pakistani officials coordinated transport and care.
Woke from medically induced coma
Came out of coma and showed signs of recovery; prognosis improved though further surgeries and rehabilitation were required.
Facial nerve surgery (8.5 hours)
Underwent lengthy surgery to repair facial nerve damage caused by the gunshot.
Pakistan announces $10M education fund in her honour
President Asif Ali Zardari announced a $10 million education fund in Malala's honour following the attack.
Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize (2013) — not awarded that year
Shortlisted/nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 but the prize went to others that year; nominated again in 2014.
Co‑founded Malala Fund
Co‑founded the Malala Fund (with Shiza Shahid and her father among supporters) to campaign for girls' secondary education worldwide.
Named on Time magazine's most influential lists
Featured in Time magazine (2013, and again in 2014 and 2015) as one of the world's most influential people.
Named among 'most influential teenagers' globally
Media (Deutsche Welle, Time and others) described her as possibly the most famous teenager internationally following the assassination attempt and recovery.
Planned Malala Education Foundation (early planning)
By 2012–2013 she and her supporters planned a foundation to help poor girls attend school; evolved into Malala Fund.
United Nations Human Rights Prize (recognition year)
Recognised by the UN with honours for human rights activism (UN Human Rights Prize noted in 2013 coverage).
Discharged from hospital to family home in West Midlands
Left hospital to continue rehabilitation with family in the UK; received ongoing physiotherapy and reconstructive surgeries.
Skull reconstruction and cochlear implant surgery
Underwent a five‑hour operation to reconstruct her skull and restore hearing with a cochlear implant.
United Nations speech on 'Malala Day'
First public appearance since the attack; addressed the UN Youth Assembly calling for education for every child and marking 'Malala Day'.
Published memoir 'I Am Malala'
Co‑authored I Am Malala with Christina Lamb; international bestseller that expanded her global profile.
Received Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought
Awarded the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize in recognition of her activism for children's right to education.
Received Liberty Medal
Became the youngest recipient of the Liberty Medal (National Constitution Center) in recognition of her advocacy.
Awarded Nobel Peace Prize (co‑recipient)
Co‑recipient with Kailash Satyarthi for their struggle for children's rights and education; became the youngest Nobel laureate at age 17.
Trials and convictions of some attackers
By April 2015 most suspects were acquitted for lack of evidence; two men were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in relation to the attack.
Opened Malala Fund girls' school in Lebanon
On her 18th birthday, inaugurated a Malala Fund‑supported girls' school for Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Documentary 'He Named Me Malala' released
Subject of the Davis Guggenheim documentary which was Oscar‑shortlisted and broadened international awareness of her cause.
Received honorary Canadian citizenship; addressed House of Commons
Awarded honorary Canadian citizenship and became the youngest person to address the House of Commons of Canada.
Completed secondary education at Edgbaston High School
Attended Edgbaston High School in Birmingham from 2013 to 2017 and completed her secondary studies.
Started undergraduate studies at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Won a place at Lady Margaret Hall to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE).
Appointed United Nations Messenger of Peace
Named by UN Secretary‑General António Guterres as the youngest ever UN Messenger of Peace to advocate for girls' education.
Published children's book 'Malala's Magic Pencil'
Released the picture book inspired by her childhood aimed at young readers.
Awarded Gleitsman Prize (Harvard) and other honours
Received the Gleitsman Award from Harvard's Center for Public Leadership and additional international recognitions.
Apple partnership announced for girls' education
Apple announced a partnership with the Malala Fund to help provide education and support to girls; included funding, technology and curriculum support.
Published 'We Are Displaced'
Released We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World, documenting refugee girls' experiences.
Malala Fund reported investment across programs (site figure)
Malala Fund reported it had invested more than $47 million across its programs (figure cited on organisational materials/websites).
Graduated BA (PPE) from Oxford University
Completed a three‑year BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford.
Apple TV+ multiyear programming partnership (Extracurricular)
Apple announced a multiyear production partnership with Malala's production company (Extracurricular) to create original programming.
Married Asser Malik
Married Asser Malik in Birmingham, UK, beginning a new personal chapter while continuing activism.
Executive producer: 'Stranger at the Gate' (short documentary)
Served as executive producer on the short documentary that received an Academy Award nomination.
Youngest Honorary Fellow at Linacre College, Oxford
Returned to Oxford as the youngest ever Honorary Fellow of Linacre College.
Attended 2023 Oscars for film she produced (attendance)
Attended the Academy Awards where a short film she executive produced was nominated; high‑profile public appearance.
Malala Fund 10th anniversary; speech at UN House, Nigeria
Marked 10 years of the Malala Fund with a speech reflecting on the organisation's impact for millions of girls.
Continued executive chair role and wider advocacy
Continues as executive chair and co‑founder of the Malala Fund, producing media projects and campaigning for girls' education globally.
Key Achievement Ages
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