Through work I’ve met many iconic people but meeting Malala Yousafzai was absolutely inspirational and a true joy.
One of the things I love about running Book Clubs is connecting with the authors because it always amazes me how someone can sit at a desk, or other special place, and just write their feelings as they flow through the pen or keyboard. The result being that those writings resonate with people all over the world as it’s translated into hundreds of languages.
However, when I met Malala during the week, it was a different feeling. This amazing young lady at 14 years of age was speaking out about her passion to be educated and not married off, to have a life based on teachings and learning through an education system. We have all heard that there were powers who didn’t agree with her, feeling no emotion at all they just shot her.
So her book comes from a different place, an experience which was not one she chose, and she put pen to paper as a result of surviving the shooting. Malala has overcome all odds and is now being educated in Birmingham.
I felt honoured to be in her presence. and when my daughters Morggan and Kamarane saw a photo of Malala and I they were so proud to be able to just walk to school and believe it is their right to be educated.
We salute you Malala.
