FPCD at MALALA DAY

FPCD Participates in MALALA DAY at the United Nations

 

Amanda Nesheiwat, FPCD Youth Representative, presents her perspective here.

"On July 12^th, I had the opportunity to attend the first ever Malala Day at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.  Nearly 1000 youth from around the world gathered for a Global Youth Takeover of the General Assembly and called upon world leaders to understand the importance of educating our youth. I was happy to be there in support of Malala Yousafzai and what she represented as well as being in a room filled with youth representatives from 75 nations who made their way to NYC to have their voices heard on an issue we consider very urgent.

 

(Amanda Nesheiwat, far right, with Youth Representatives from around the world)

The event started with words by the UN Special Envoy for Global Education and the President of the General Assembly. Then Secretary General Ban Ki- Moon told us all his incredible story of how he was a child in poverty and education was everything to him and how the United Nations helped him learn to read by providing books to children. As Malala made her way to the podium, all of the youth delegates stood up including Malala’s parent’s and sang Happy Birthday to her since the UN intentionally made Malala Day on her 16^th birthday. 

(Secretary General Ban ki-Moon speaks at the podium)

As we all sat down with anticipation of hearing what she had to say, she told us that Malala Day is not in fact a celebration for her, but for all of the boys and girls in the world who raised their voices for their rights. She spoke of how the Taliban shot her in the head and thought that they would silence her and her friends, but instead created courage and strength among millions of people. She spoke of the tragedy and how common it is for young people to go to school in war ridden areas and talked of the many challenges that young woman in some parts of the world must go through to go to school.

 Unfortunately, there are currently 57 million children in the world who do not have access to education.  Perhaps the most memorable quote from her inspirational speech was when she told us that our books and pens are our most powerful weapons saying that extremists are afraid of women and the power of education. These powerful words brought some of us to tears including the Secretary Ban, his wife and Malala’s parents. No child should ever have to go through such a traumatic experience just to get an education, our human right. The youth presented a “Global Youth Resolution: The Education We Want” to the Secretary General and the US Special Envoy for Global Education that we had all put together previous to the event.  The resolution resonated with the Millennium Development Goals and laid out a plan for fair and affordable universal education. Since Malala Day, world leaders have recommitted to prioritizing education. I feel so honored to have been at Malala Day with so many inspiring and passionate young people who are shaping the outcome of our future.  

(A standing ovation from the world's youth for Malala)

 By: Amanda J Nesheiwat