Photo: REX USA/Lucy Young/Rex.This morning, 17-year-old Malala Yousafzai was named a winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. She is the youngest recipient to be awarded the distinguished honor, and she joins a long list of notable statesmen, including President Obama, Al Gore, and Nelson Mandela. She is one of only 15 woman to have received the award since its inception in 1901.
The inspiring Pakistani teen shares this year's Nobel Peace Prize with Indian children's rights activist Kailash Satyarthi. The prize comes with a $1.1 million award.
This distinction is the icing on the cake for Malala, who, in the two years since being shot by the Taliban, has written a best-selling memoir, been named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People, and established herself as one of the world's leading campaigners for girls' education.
AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT
“Despite her youth, Malala Yousafzai has already fought for several years for the right of girls to education, and has shown by example that children and young people, too, can contribute to improving their own situations," the Nobel committee shared in a statement.
“This she has done under the most dangerous circumstances. Through her heroic struggle she has become a leading spokesperson for girls’ rights to education.”
We remain ever inspired. (The Guardian)