FOUR BRAVE GIRLS DETERMINED TO GET AN EDUCATION IT’S been nearly two months since brave Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by a Taliban hitman on her way home from school in Pakistan. Malala, 15, is now recovering at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. In 2009 education campaigner Malala wrote an anonymous blog about life under the Taliban, who had banned all girls in her area of
northern Pakistan from attending school. The Taliban said she deserved to die because she had spoken out against the group and praised President Barack Obama. She has now become a symbol of resistance against the Taliban’s efforts to deprive girls of an education. Unesco figures show that 61million children worldwide are not in school – 32million of
whom are girls – and that Pakistan has the second largest number of girls out of school in the world. Here, SHARON HENDRY talks to four courageous girls who are following in Malala’s footsteps and defying the Taliban to attend school in the Lower Dir district of Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province.
Tales to treat kids
THE enjoyment of reading is one of the most precious gifts you can give to little ones – so pop a fun, festive book in their Christmas stocking. Here, the Sun’s Book Columnist NATASHA HARDING selects six of the best.
SALMA, 12 FORTUNATELY for Salma, she had a head start on her fellow classmates because her mother and father already work as teachers. The 12-year-old first showed signs of intelligence from an early age and has been defying cultural norms and attending school from the age of five. Salma’s mother Shafiqa says: “Salma is a really dedicated student. She works very hard at all her academic subjects but also loves to play cricket. “In our society there is a concept that education for boys is much more important than it is for girls. “That’s because it is perceived that girls are born only to stay inside the four walls of home and perform a reproductive role as a mother and wife. “Meanwhile, men are supposed to dominate the world outside the home and perform the breadwinner role. “But in my opinion this concept is totally wrong. “I think education is important for all of humanity. “I really wish that when Salma completes her education, she will join my school as a teacher. “I would feel so proud to have her working alongside me.” Salma herself adds: “My parents have been my greatest role models along with Malala. She is such a brave and brilliant person.”
Snow Bunny’s Christmas Wish by Rebecca Harry (Nosy Crow, £12.99)
SNOW bunny just wants a friend for Christmas but as she rushes off to tell Santa she meets lots of animals along the way who need her help. When she finally sees Santa, the little bunny realises that she has made her wish come true all on her own. A lovely tale with lots of sparkly foil that kids love.
MALALA IS JUST SO AMAZING
l Some names and locations have been changed to protect the identity of the interviewees.
Santa Flap Book (Usborne, £5.99)
IT’S Christmas Eve and Santa is leaving special gifts to all the deserving children. As he makes his very special deliveries, little ones can help by lifting the flaps to discover five exciting presents. Usborne do these interactive board books best and this is another goodie.
The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas, by Tom Fletcher & Dougie Poynter (Red Fox, £6.99)
IRUM, 17
ONE young girl who has benefited from a community-based school built by the charity Khwendo Kor (which means “Sisters’ Home” in Pashto) is teenager Nazish. Explaining her background, she says: “I have four sisters and two brothers. My mother is an uneducated housewife and my father is a labourer but – luckily for me – he approves of education for girls. “So when we heard about a school that was being built near our home, he saw it as a great opportunity for me and encouraged me to go there. “I passed the first five years at that school and now I am in grade seven. Both my parents are so
NAZISH, 13 happy with my progress.” Nazish is enjoying her schooling so much that she would like to be involved in teaching others when she is older. It is a dream that many of her school friends share. She says: “Like so many of my classmates, my dream is to become a teacher in the school that gave me the chance of an education. “I also want to work to promote education in my country. Malala has sacrificed so much to tell the world about the situation for girls in our country. We are all praying for her recovery.” Nazish’s proud
mother Aneela adds: “I am so happy to see my daughter getting the education that I never had. “And as her mother, it gives me so much joy just to see her carrying her schoolbooks under her arm each day. She works so hard at school but she still finds the time to help me at home with things like dishwashing and bringing in the hay for our animals.” l You can find out more about Khwendo Kor, which helps women to better themselves and their families, online at khwendokor.org.pk.
I’D LOVE TO BE A TEACHER
the very school that changed her life. She says: “My education has only been possible because of the courage of
my teachers who persuaded my parents to let me carry on with my studies. “It also took courage for my parents to agree because girls in my country face many threats for attending school. “A terrible thing happened to Malala and we all pray she will get well soon. While she recovers many other girls are continuing her legacy by carrying on with their education. “It is the only way our country will change for the better.”
IT TOOK A LOT OF COURAGE
THE SUN BACKS MALALA TO WIN NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
SAIRA, 13 LIVING in one small dwelling with her parents, six brothers and four sisters isn’t easy for Saira. Her father relies on seasonal farming work to feed his family who often experience great poverty when he is not employed. Because of her gender and poor family, Saira’s wish for an education felt like a distant dream. That was until 2002 when a
A REMOTE, povertystriken village where medicine and education are virtually non-existent, is where Irum calls home. She lives with nine members of her family in a small hut and dreamed of going to school from a young age — but both her parents were reluctant and the nearest school was several miles away. But when Khwendo Kor established a school in her village, she was first in the queue for a place — despite her family’s reservations and concerns. Irum excelled and completed grade eight with flying colours but then her father told her it was time for her to return to household duties. She begged her teachers to persuade her dad to let her stay and, amazingly, they talked him round.Irum is now a teacher in
community school was built by the charity Khwendo Kor — just 20 minutes away from her home. The donations from the organisation, which has been devoted to empowering women and girls for almost 20 years, means that Saira can attend for a small
fee each month. What’s more, her books and stationery are also paid for by the charity. Saira says: “Before I started school I couldn’t read or write. Now I’m learning new things every day. “My parents are very happy.
I COULD EDUCATE OTHERS
I like my school, my teachers and my friends. I have fun playing different games with them. My favourite subject is English. “I want to become a teacher when I graduate because I think teaching is a respectable profession. “I would also get the chance to learn more about the world. “And I could educate other children in my community. That would be my dream.”
THE Sun has teamed up with Khwendo Kor and Shahida Choudhary, who fought hard for her education, to take your letters of support to Malala. Together we are campaigning for the Prime Minister and prominent politicians to recommend Malala for next year’s Nobel Peace Prize. A petition has been started by Shahida, who was taken out of school in the UK aged 16 and
forced into a marriage in Pakistan. But she escaped back to the UK, returned to her studies when she was 28, and now runs a support network in Birmingham to help women in similar situations. Shahida said: “Malala doesn’t just represent one young woman. She speaks out for all those who are denied an education purely on the basis of their gender. “There are girls like Malala in
the UK and across the world. I was one of them. “I started this petition because a Nobel Peace Prize for Malala will send a clear message that the world is watching and will support those who stand up for the right of girls to get an education.” To lend your support, write to: Malala Campaign, care of Features Department, The Sun, 3 Thomas More Square, London E98 1SN.
THIS picture book penned by two members of McFly shows what happens when a baby dinosaur gets so hungry he eats Christmas. Luckily all is not lost when he goes to the toilet – and poops it out. A modern tale that is silly, fun and has a great rhyme.
The Empty Stocking by Richard Curtis (Puffin, £6.99)
ACCLAIMED screenwriter Richard Curtis’s heartwarming Christmas tale will resonate with little ones everywhere. Twins Sam and Charlie fear they have been too naughty for presents. Can Charlie redeem them and guarantee some gifts?
When It Snows by Richard Collingridge (David Fickling, £10.99)
THE snow is usually enough to make everything stop – but one little boy and his teddy are determined to have an adventure. This stunning picture book is simply beautiful and a lovely read for slightly older children.
My First Christmas by Stephen Barker (Caterpillar Books, £7.99)
IT’S wonderful to share the story of Christmas with young children and see their faces light up at the wonder of it all. This simple re-telling of the first Christmas is brought to life with pictures and the pop-up finale will delight young readers.