Page 83 - BEATS: Secondary School Edition 2020-21

What gives you the courage to pursue your fight The word Islam itself means peace. In fact, the
towards equal access to education? first word of the Holy Quran is ‘read’. It isn’t about any
People may think that with me getting the Nobel difference between the education of men and women
Peace Prize and with my books and movies getting — it was all about the importance of reading, and the
released, I don’t need anything else. They fail to goodness of gaining knowledge. I believe that God
understand that my aim to see every child educated, has sent us to learn, and to discover more concepts.
hasn’t been achieved yet. It’s really important that we People have misinterpreted religion and its impact on
come together and support each other. This is about our lives.
the future of all the 66 million girls who cannot go to
school... it’s going to affect every one of us. If half the Thank you for that really insightful interview. To
population is being stopped from coming forward, close off, I would like to ask if you could give young
how can you even think of the progression of a nation? children any advice from personal experience, what
It’s our responsibility to actively participate to bring would it be?
change. It’s us who can bring change. It’s this belief Don’t think that you are too young, or that you can’t
that drives me. do something. When I was writing the blog for BBC, I
was only 11 years old. When I started speaking out, I
Did you face any gender discrimination when you was around 13. Don’t let your age make you believe
started out in your mission to ensure education to that you can’t make a big change, or that your ideas
all of the youth? If so, how did you overcome it? aren’t worth anything. Don’t wait for the future to take
After being shot in Pakistan, I’ve always received action. You deserve to be treated equally, and your
a lot of support from everyone towards me and my age (or gender or religion, for that matter) shouldn’t
mission. Still, some people have neglected, and even limit you.
abandoned my mission. However, I go by the motto “If
not now, when? If not me, who?” I decided that as long — Aiyana Nagrare, MYP 3
as I have this aim of fighting against injustice, I must
continue towards my goal.

From personal experience, what do you think is
the relationship between education, gender, and
religion/social status?

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