THE GIRL WHO was shot in the head by the Taliban for campaigning for girls’ rights to an education, Malala Yousafzai, is to travel to Ireland next week.
In January, it was announced that she had been nominated to receive the Tipperary International Peace Prize. The 16-year-old will travel to Tipperary to accept her prize at a ceremony next Tuesday at the Ballykisteen Hotel.
The Tipperary Peace Convention said Malala was chosen because of her courage, determination and perseverance, as well as the impact she has had on so many across the world.
On 9 October, Malala was shot in the head and neck in an assassination attempt by Taliban gunmen while returning home on a school bus. She survived the attack and was brought to the UK where she had to undergo skull surgery.
The teenage activist recovered and on her sixteenth birthday addressed the United Nations on the importance of raising levels of education among girls across the world.
Malala first rose to prominence in 2009, aged just 11, through her blog for the BBC Urdu service. In her posts, she described life in Swat during the bloody rule of the Taliban.
Malala, an advocate of Plan’s global “Because I am a Girl” education programme will accept her award and give an address on the evening.
Mike Mansfield of Plan Ireland said:
Malala’s story has struck a chord across the world. This young campaigner has become an inspiration to millions. This is an extraordinary, brave young women who, when faced with death refused to give up and refused to be silent.
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