Educating girls: Malala Yousafzai, I Am A Girl and Girl Rising.

I'm in awe at how passionate activist, 2013 Nobel Prize nominee and survivor, Malala Yousafzai is about educating herself and ensuring all children are educated. She believes education is the key to peace - the key to changing the world. Shot in the face by the Taliban in 2012, she said "I don't want revenge on the Taliban, I want education for sons and daughters of the Taliban.”

She believes education is a human right.

"Let us pick up our books and pens. They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world. Education is the only solution," Malala said.

Read more and listen to her only Austràlian interview.

Watch her full interview with Jon Stewart below.

 

I watched two films about girls rights this past month - I Am a Girl and Girl Rising. Both films told the true stories of girls (mostly living in developing countries) around the world. The films covered issues of child slavery, child marriage, slavery, sexual violence, young motherhood, education, embedded poverty cycles and cultural oppression.

Despite the difficult topics, both films showed courage and hope - and the important role of education to change these girls' situations. Education can not only change their individual situations, but their families' and the wider world. Just like Malala. These girls are so passionate about learning. They know their future depends on an education.

"We cannot reach the sun with wings crafted from feathers and wax and desperation." - Girl Rising.

Education gives people the strength and knowledge to reach the sun.

This post is for Blog Action Day - bringing together bloggers from different countries, interests and languages to blog about one important global topic on the same day - today, 16 October. This year's theme is human rights.