Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai donates over $100,000 toChibok victims
Friday, 16 May 2014 18:47
PAKISTANI schoolgirl Malala
Yousafzai has donated $102,500 to a special fund set up to address education
for Nigerian women and girls in the wake of the kidnapping of 234 schoolgirls
in Chibok.
Ms Yousafzai, 16, was shot by a Taliban gunman in 2012 over
her outspoken views on education for girls in her home region of northwest
Pakistan. After undergoing extensive medical treatment in the UK, she now lives
here and has become a symbol of the resistance to those opposed to girls
education.
On Wednesday this week, a painted portrait of Malala fetched
$102,500 at an auction on in New York and she has immediately donated the money
to the Chibok cause. Last week, the Malala Fund launched a funding programme in
response to the Nigerian crisis and this money will go towards it.
Malala said: “I was shocked and saddened when I heard about
the abduction of more than 200 girls by terrorists in Nigeria. I am very
concerned about these innocent girls, my sisters, whose only crime was going to
school and learning.
"I believe it is our duty to stand together in
solidarity with their parents, families and relatives as together we can create
a world where no child will be out of school and no student will fear for her
or his safety. We all have a voice and we must speak up and call on the
international community and the government of Nigeria to intervene and bring
these girls back to their homes safely."
Malala's portrait was painted in 2013 by British
artist Jonathan Yeo and shows her after she started attending a school in
Birmingham, where she now lives. In July 2013, Malala spoke before the
United Nations in and met with Queen Elizabeth in Buckingham Palace and in
October met with US President Barack Obama and his family, during which she
confronted him on his use of drone strikes in Pakistan.
Since the abduction of the girls from Government Girls
Secondary School Chibok in Borno State by Boko Haram, Malala has been a vocal voice
in support of their safe return. She has joined calls for the international
community to do everything in its powers to guaranteed they are rescued and
reunited with their families.
Culled From, Nigeria WatchPakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai donates over $100,000 toChibok victims
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