In 2013, the U.N. declared July 12 Malala Day in honor of Malala Yousafzai, a fierce advocate for the education of girls and women around the world. She released a book earlier this year, “We Are Displaced,” that features the stories of women refugees and their struggles. It’s a topic that’s fresh in our minds as we continue to read troubling news coming from America’s southern border.
Speaking in New York in January, Yousafzai said, “People do not know enough about refugees — they are not seen as humans. People are not welcoming refugees at this time. There is a negative attitude towards them. We hear about refugees in the news, in statistics, in figures. We hear of them, but we never hear from them.”
“We need to understand the power that we have, from the power of the vote to the power of our voice,” she said.
Let’s celebrate Malala Day by using our platforms to amplify those voices that need to be heard.
Learn more about Malala’s incredible work on her website.
Original photo by DFID used under a Creative Commons 2.0 License
