Malala Yousafzai

At the age of just 17, Malala is the youngest ever recipient to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Malala first came to attention in 2009 after she wrote an anonymous diary for BBC Urdu about life under Taliban rule in north-west Pakistan. At 15, a Taliban gunman boarded her school bus in Pakistan and shot her and two other girls, attempting to both kill Malala and, as the Taliban later said, teach a ‘lesson’ to anyone who had the courage to stand up for education, freedom and self-determination, particularly for girls and women. She has since published an autobiography and addressed the United Nations. 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. She has done this under dangerous circumstances. We should all take lead from her struggle and commitment. It shows you can work for social justice at any age.   This Week

• Volunteer — Use some of your free time this summer to volunteer and work with the poor. Find out what opportunities exist at your local parish,  Charities or another organization.
• Get involved — With organizations such as Amnesty International it’s easy to show your support through volunteering, petition signing, letter writing or attending local human rights events.

• Donate books — Reading not only educates; it exercises the imagination. Donate old books to your local school, library or an after-school program.
• Volunteer — Sign up now to volunteer in a reading program or other program for children.