Malala Yousafzai Finds Her Way

Summary

Rotary Voices Podcast: "Malala Yousafzai Finds Her Way"

Date: July 22, 2026
Host: Ying Kavat (Rotary magazine)
Guest: Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and founder of Malala Fund

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Episode Overview

In this compelling conversation, Ying Kavat sits down with Malala Yousafzai at Rotary International’s convention in Taipei. The discussion traverses Malala’s personal journey from schoolgirl activist in Pakistan to global advocate for girls’ education, her close family bonds, mental health challenges, her candor about identity, friendships, and marriage, and her ongoing mission to expand educational access worldwide. Drawing from her new memoir, Finding My Way, Malala reflects on both her public and private struggles, aiming to demystify heroism and encourage collective action for change.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins of Malala's Activism

• Early Defiance: As a child in Northern Pakistan, Malala could not accept a future without education, despite the Taliban’s ban.
  • “I just could not see a future for myself without an education. And I know this is a dream of every girl.” (Malala, 02:47)
• Survival and Resistance: Malala’s resolve only grew after surviving an assassination attempt.
  • “What they don't want to see is an educated girl, and I will become that… they wanted to silence one girl… Today, I want to help millions of girls be in school.” (03:31)

2. Influence of Family—Supporting Father and Resilient Mother

• Father as Feminist Ally: Her father’s commitment sprang from witnessing unequal opportunities for his sisters.
  • “If nothing could change for his sisters, could things change for his daughter? … He wanted to give me that name, Malala, because he just wanted me to have my own identity.” (05:36)
• Close Bond with Father: Malala shares personal moments with her father, expanding the idea of paternal support.
  • “We have been very close, and I think, you know, it should be normalized. Your fathers can be your best allies.” (06:23)
• Mother’s Constraints and Growth:
  • “My mother, now in her, like, 50s, is going into this adults learning center, and she's learning again. She's very committed to her education now, but this is an opportunity that she did not get as a girl growing up.” (06:41)
• Generational Struggles:
  • “There has been a whole generation of women who never even imagined that they could have dreams for themselves.” (08:54)
• Evolving Relationship: Malala describes growing closer to her mother as she matures and gains perspective on women’s sacrifices. (10:17)

3. Transition to Oxford and Navigating Young Adulthood

• Freedom Meets Pressure: Malala recounts yearning for a “normal” student life while managing global responsibilities.
  • “At this high school...I struggled to make friends...at college, I just wish that I could be like a normal student...I could just relax.” (11:43, 12:47)
• Building Sisterhood: Oxford offered her a surrogate family in close female friendships. (12:47)
• Balancing Dual Selves:
  • “I, for a period of time, actually thought that I can't have friends, I can't find love, and I'm only supposed to be this serious person...” (14:08)
  • “I have, like, matured as a person…life is a lot more complex, but it gets more beautiful when you have incredible people around you.” (14:08)

4. Mental Health Transparency and Overcoming Guilt

• Candor about Struggles: Malala reveals panic attacks, PTSD, and seeking therapy—emphasizing that public figures aren’t immune.
  • “In college time, like, I started getting panic attacks and flashbacks of the Taliban attack. So my mental health was in a very difficult state, and I started getting therapy. And I'm so glad that I did that because it changed everything for me.” (15:37)
• Universal Anxiety:
  • “A lot of students go through that, and that gave me a little comfort… you're not the only one.” (17:05)
• Message to Youth:
  • “It's really important for us to raise more awareness about mental health... And when I receive therapy, it changed everything.” (21:13)
• Guilt and the Weight of Expectations:
  • “I nearly failed my first year exams. So when I realized, thrown out of Oxford, literally. So then I was like, okay, I need to figure out a way to balance it.” (19:02)

5. Redefining Role Models and Humanizing Activists

• Rejecting Perfection:
  • “I Don't want to tell young people that…role models…had it figured out... I'm in the same place as them.” (15:37)
• Encouraging Authenticity: Malala underscores truth-telling and embracing setbacks for young changemakers. (15:37)

6. Personal Choices and Evolving Opinions: Marriage

• Skepticism Turned Acceptance:
  • “I did not want to get married growing up because I was concerned what happens to a girl's life...But then I spent time with Asar where I realized that he is a gentle and a kind person.” (22:37)
• Marriage as Partnership:
  • “For us, it's about respecting each other and bringing more joy into each other's lives....It doesn't mean that my concerns about marriage are gone now.” (22:37)

7. Practical Activism: Building Schools and Community Change

• Investing Nobel Prize Money Locally:
  • “With the Nobel Peace Prize money…we bought a piece of land in my parents village, Shangla...this is the place where my mother could not complete her education.” (24:43)
• Impactful Stories:
  • “We made this amazing state-of-the-art school...We have saved the lives of so many girls and we have protected them from child marriage and we are helping them continue their education.” (24:43)
• Ripple Effects:
  • “They are role models to that community and they have changed the future for women and girls in that community.” (24:43)

8. Vision for Global Change—Beyond Political Office

• From Politics to People:
  • “No, it's not my goal, Honestly, my goal was actually to bring change in my country. And I feel very lucky that I have a platform like Malala Fund.” (26:59)
• Dream for Global Equality:
  • “I have this dream for girls in every part of the world—from Brazil to Ethiopia to Tanzania...that the number of out of school girls drops down from 120 million to zero.” (26:59)

9. Action Steps for Rotarians and Listeners

• Lasting Connection to Rotary:
  • “My father was a Rotary Club member...your work is reaching to so many different parts of the world...” (28:07)
• Call to Join Hands:
  • “Each individual act matters, so never feel alone when you are getting started....Second, it’s so important for us to join hands because when we do, we are stronger than ever.” (28:07)
• Encouragement:
  • “Be bold in the work that you do and keep it going.” (28:07)

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Memorable Quotes

• “We cannot step back, because that, in a way, is a defeat for us. And I feel like the best way to fight against extremists like the Taliban is to keep empowering women.” — Malala Yousafzai (03:31)
• “There has been a whole generation of women who never even imagined that they could have dreams for themselves.” — Malala Yousafzai (08:54)
• “I want them to know that I'm in the same place as them...it’s hard. There are setbacks, and you're learning...” — Malala Yousafzai (15:37)
• “It's really important for us to raise more awareness about mental health.” — Malala Yousafzai (21:13)
• “Each individual act matters, so never feel alone when you are getting started.” — Malala Yousafzai (28:07)

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Notable Timestamps

• [02:47] Malala on the drive behind her activism
• [03:31] How surviving the Taliban attack fueled her resilience
• [05:36] Role and influence of her father
• [06:41] Mother's experiences and generational shifts
• [08:54] Reflections on her mother's lost dreams
• [11:43] Transition to Oxford and social adjustments
• [15:37] On humanizing role models and discussing mental health
• [19:02] Academic pressures and learning balance at university
• [21:13] Dealing with trauma and the importance of therapy
• [22:37] Evolving beliefs about marriage
• [24:43] Building schools and on-the-ground impact
• [26:59] No political ambitions, but global ambitions for girls’ education
• [28:07] How Rotary members can take action and Malala’s call to solidarity

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Final Thoughts

This episode offers a sweeping yet intimate look at Malala Yousafzai’s life, ideals, vulnerabilities, and her bold vision for girls' education and equity. Through candid storytelling, she inspires listeners to recognize the collective and generational nature of change—and to take tangible steps, both big and small, in pursuit of a more just world.

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For more on Rotary International and how you can participate, visit https://rotary.org.

Transcript

[Ying Kavat]

Foreign.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Hello. Assalamualaikum, Rotarians. Friends, fellow change makers, I am honored to be here. When I look around this room today, I can see the scale of what Rotary represents. More than a million members in 200 countries, decades of work to eradicate polio, clean water, maternal health, peace building. You have shown again and again that ordinary people choosing to act together can accomplish extraordinary things. Over the years, I have learned that one person cannot change the world on their own. That every movement in history was built by many hands.

[Ying Kavat]

From Taipei, this is the Rotary Voices Podcast. I'm in KVAT at Rotary International's convention in Taipei this June. I had the opportunity to interview Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai on stage. During our conversation, she shared her passion for empowering girls and ensuring they have access to quality education. Her journey from a young advocate for education in Pakistan to co founder of the Malala Fund and a global champion for girls rights has inspired millions around the world in including thousands of Rotarians gathered in Taipei. Malala is not only a powerful activist, but also a gifted writer. In her latest book, Finding My Way, she reflects on growing up in the global spotlight, navigating university, mental health, friendship and marriage, as well as her ongoing search for identity and purpose. After our onstage conversation, Malala joined me in the studio for a more personal discussion about her new book, her activism, and the challenges and opportunities facing girls education around the world. Malala Yousafzai, welcome to the Roti Voices podcast.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Thank you.

[Ying Kavat]

So Malala, your journey began in a very challenging environment when the Taliban banned girls from school in Northern Pakistan, Though you just didn't accept it. You campaigned through your blog and through your other writing and you persuaded the Pakistan military to basically overthrow that edict from the Taliban. A few years later, you were shot in the face on your way to school. But that still didn't silence you. So what I want to ask is, what is it that makes you so brave?

[Malala Yousafzai]

I just could not see a future for myself without an education. And I know this is a dream of every girl. I have met, so many of them from my community to then traveling to different parts of the world. And girls are determined. They want to keep learning despite the hardships that they face. I'm just one of those girls who wanted to be in school and I feel very lucky now that I'm able to say that I have completed my education, I graduated college, but when I think about the 11 year old girl I once was, I just could not believe in that moment if this would ever come true. Or not. So I had to fight for it.

[Ying Kavat]

But it would have been so easy to back down. They were targeting you, your life. Did the Taliban's attack, ironically, make you stronger?

[Malala Yousafzai]

I think what the Taliban were doing against women and girls, it's just a reminder that they're just so scared of an educated girl. They're so scared of empowered women. So we cannot step back, because that, in a way, is a defeat for us. And I feel like the best way to fight against extremists like the Taliban is to keep empowering women. I was like, you know, what they don't want to see is an educated girl, and I will become that what they don't want to see an empowered woman, and I will become that. So this has been my way of resisting against them, to be educated and to give education to as many girls as possible. I said that they wanted to silence one girl for daring to be in school. Today, I want to help millions of girls be in school.

[Ying Kavat]

Malala. It makes me think about your name, Malala. And this was given to you by your father. Yes. And it was after a female hero and warrior. What do you make of his choice three decades ago and what you are today?

[Malala Yousafzai]

My father is a feminist. He is very passionate about supporting women and girls. And I always tell people that I got a chance to be able to speak was because of my father's support. There were many other girls in my community who wanted to come in front of a camera, participate in the activism, but their fathers or their brothers stop them. We do come from a very patriarchal community. It really makes a huge difference when you have the support of your male family members, when they become your allies. So my father has played such a huge role in my life. You know, he was a teacher, he was an activist, and I looked up to him. So I was following his footsteps. And then I feel very lucky that he never stopped me from the activism work that I do. I remember, like, one time my cousin was complaining to my dad that, you know, Malala is in the public eye now and she should cover her face. She should not be participating in these public events. And my father told him to mind his own business and not interfere in my life. So I'm really grateful that my father stood up for me, and I hope that more and more step up and, like, become our allies.

[Ying Kavat]

And why do you think your father was so different?

[Malala Yousafzai]

So his own five sisters did not go to school. He went to school. His brother went to school. And for him, it was just these two distinct realities of what life is like when you are born a girl and what life is like when you are born a boy. And his commitment was like, if nothing could change for his sisters, could things change for his daughter? That's when he made a commitment that he would educate his daughter and let her shine and all of that. So even when he was naming me after Malalai of my one, the Afghan heroine, so he wanted to give me that name, Malala, because he just wanted me to have my own identity.

[Ying Kavat]

And it's a mark of how close that you were with your father. I hope it's okay to say this, but in puberty, when your period came.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yes.

[Ying Kavat]

You didn't tell your mom?

[Malala Yousafzai]

No.

[Ying Kavat]

You actually told your father?

[Malala Yousafzai]

I did. You know, we have been very close, and I think, you know, it should be normalized. Your fathers can be your best allies.

[Ying Kavat]

The reason why you were closer to your father, was it something to do with the deep historical constraints actually placed on your mother in society?

[Malala Yousafzai]

I think it's partly true. Because my mother grew up in a very conservative culture. There was like, no secondary school for girls at the time. She joined a local primary school, but she realized she was the only girl in that classroom. She sold her books, never went to school again. So my mother, now in her, like, 50s, is going into this adults learning center, and she's learning again. She's very committed to her education now, but this is an opportunity that she did not get as a girl growing up. But she also saw how women and girls were treated if they dare to disobey any of the societal expectations or the patriarchal kind of norms. And we hear about honor killing, we hear about women facing harassment, girls forced into marriages. So this is all that my mother saw very closely. And in order to be protective for me, she would sometimes be very strict. She's like, make sure you dress up in a way that causes no concern culturally. Dress up all in the traditional clothing with modesty. And I would say if you look at the wider world, even in a lot of Muslim countries, it's not shalwar kamees. That is a traditional dress. Like in every country, it's different. And actually, like in Islam, the teaching is that you should follow modesty, but you can have your own cultural outfits as well. There's no ban against, like, jeans or any of that. But I think there's a lot of misunderstanding. And so my mom, when I was going to college, she was packing for me and she was throwing in, like, all of these traditional clothes. And I love my shalwar kami but in college, it would make me stand out as this activist person that I am. So I want to wear something that makes me look like a college student, which is a pair of jeans and, you know, a gray jumper and a jacket. Just like, very boring college casual outfits. So I was sneaking in and, like, sort of putting in those things that I was getting for myself and for my mom. It was a big surprise that I wanted to change my style. But then she came to this understanding why it was important for me. But, yeah, it's always been this tension where we sort of, like, agree to disagree.

[Ying Kavat]

There was a heartbreaking moment in your novel Finding My Way, when you asked your mom what her dreams were. Can you tell us about that?

[Malala Yousafzai]

I remember that moment because I wanted to know what it was like for her growing up. And in that moment, I was actually making a decision whether I wanted to get married or not. And I was just thinking about my mom and what life was like for her as a girl. You know, did she have a dream? Did she have a pathway for herself?

[Ying Kavat]

And.

[Malala Yousafzai]

And my mom's answer was, oh, I just wanted to marry a man who could take me to the city and we'd enjoy the rain and eat some kebab and enjoy the food. I was like, mom, that's different. What was your dream for yourself? And she had no answer. And that's when I realized that there has been a whole generation of women who never even imagined that they could have dreams for themselves. That is a pathway they could not even fathom. You know, I felt very lucky that life was different for me, and it was because of their sacrifices that I was in a better position. And I hope that we make it easier for the next generation of girls. It is more of a generational struggle. So my mom is strong and resilient and brave, and she has helped so many girls in our community get into school. She has protected so many girls from forced marriages as well. So she's a very strong voice, and she is a student. At the same time, she's learning English and math and computer and different things. So I love that she doesn't shy away from. From becoming a student, you know, much later in her life.

[Ying Kavat]

And has that brought you closer together?

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yes, we are a lot closer now. And as I got older, I got closer to her because things change in life, and sometimes I reflect on it, and I'm like, because life is so easier for men. And you see your father and you are like, yeah, my father, he has all of these opportunities. He can go out he can speak. There's nobody is determining what his life should be looking like. And so I wanted to be like my father. You know, you sort of like, want to be a man because he will have more rights. And I never wanted to be like my mom because I felt that she is so dependent and she didn't go to school. But then as years went by, I started connecting with her more because I felt that she was actually a strong old woman who made so many sacrifices in life, did so much for her kids, and. And so when I was thinking about my own marriage and how I was setting this pathway for myself, then I needed her advice. So I'm very close to my mom.

[Ying Kavat]

Let's talk about your Oxford years. So by the time you arrived at Oxford, you already had so many extraordinary experiences. You also, at the age of 17, had received the Nobel Peace Prize. So at Oxford, you were only 19 years old, is that correct? Yep.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yes.

[Ying Kavat]

And you talked about this freedom that you had there. But at the same time, there were tremendous pressures. Can you tell us about some of those that developed and evolved over that time?

[Malala Yousafzai]

I was really excited to join Oxford. I felt that it was a new start for me. And at this high school where I was studying in the uk, I struggled to make friends because I was new to the country and the culture, and I had made only one best friend. That's because she fell out with her other best friends. So I filled in the gap there. But at college, I just wish that I could be like a normal student. I could go and hang out with people, have lots of friends, have moments of joy. And so that's what I was hoping to get out of this college experience. And I feel very lucky because it took me time. I was very anxious and nervous. Should I go to this event? Should I sign up for this club or something? But then I did. I was part of the Christian society, Hindu society, Islamic society, Pakistan society. I even signed up for roving and badminton. And I left nothing. I was like, just. Just go everywhere because you'll meet as many people and then you might end up becoming friends with a few.

[Ying Kavat]

And you actually made three very good friends. Yes. Are these women still in your life?

[Malala Yousafzai]

They're all in my life. And they are actually like my sisters. I have two younger brothers and I don't have a sister. So in college, I felt like I found my sisters and they're still with me. One of them is here, actually. And you sort of. You grow together. You know, there are so many things in life that you don't have answers to. And I felt that I was, in my activism, treated in a way that people would ask me all of these big questions about how do we change the world? What can we do for girls? What should prime ministers and presidents do? That I felt that I'm supposed to have an answer for every question possible. But then I felt like I'm just a girl and I'm still navigating my way and I don't have all the answers. So friends give you that comfort where in their company, you don't feel like you are making a political statement or something. You're just chatting about something. You're chatting about boys, you're just gossiping. You're talking about star signs. And that's when I finally could just relax. I was like, wow, like, I deserve to have a normal friends conversation.

[Ying Kavat]

And so how difficult was it for you to balance those two sides of you? You were a very composed Malala who gave speeches in international, at the international arenas, as you said, talked with world leaders. And then the other side, you were a teenager still finding your way.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yes, I had become like a very shy and quiet person because I felt like, okay, if you become an activist at a young age and people are telling you that you are changing the world, I'm like, okay, it just means you make sacrifices. So I, for a period of time, actually thought that I can't have friends, I can't find love, and I'm only supposed to be this serious person and figure out all the answers to fix all the challenges that girls face. As I grew, as I met more people, I made friends and found love in life. I realized that the real beauty of humanity is that when we come together, we are able to figure out solutions to all of these problems. But this idea of like one person has it all in their head is actually false and it's a delusion. So, you know, I have, like, matured as a person. You know, life is a lot more complex, but it gets more beautiful when you have incredible people around you.

[Ying Kavat]

So, Malala, very interesting point you made about what we can achieve working together. But people, humans do tend to fixate on a single person. They need heroes, they need icons. Can you tell us in terms of writing, Finding My Way, which was so candid and so frank, we know through your many interviews that you wanted to reveal a 3D character. Yeah. Your imperfections, your humanness. Does this actually make you a much better role model for girls and women?

[Malala Yousafzai]

I think it's really important that we speak the truth. I Don't want to tell young people that if you hear someone's story in a book or they're called a role model, that they had it figured out. Because, you know, I know that a lot of young kids are reading my story, and I get to meet them, and I want them to know that I'm in the same place as them. I have been in the same place as them. You know, when you are young, you are curious about the world, you want to solve world problems. You can face a lot of pressure, and it's hard. There are setbacks, and you're learning, and the problems can be a lot more complex as well. And then it's your physical health and mental health that matter too. And with every passing day, I felt like I was sailing because 120 million girls can't go to school. There's a ban on girls education in Afghanistan, and there are just so many setbacks and challenges. And I felt like, why can't we fix it in a day? Why can't this change sooner? And then I was not looking after myself from, like, even, you know, like, drinking enough water. And in college time, like, I started getting panic attacks and flashbacks of the Taliban attack. So my mental health was in a very difficult state, and I started getting therapy. And I'm so glad that I did that because it changed everything for me.

[Ying Kavat]

Yeah, I mean, that was one of the few times that you. You did ask for help.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yes.

[Ying Kavat]

It's hard for us to ask for help, isn't it? Sometimes. Is that one of the important lessons you want to get across?

[Malala Yousafzai]

I was so hesitant to ask for help, and I just felt that nobody could understand what I was going through because we all feel like our situation is so unique. And when I went to therapy, my therapist was like, firstly, you are not the only one who is listing on all of these challenges that you are going through, like anxiety and panic attacks and just the stress. She said, a lot of students go through that, and that gave me a little comfort, like, okay, I'm not the only one. And then she said, yes, the reasons can be different, but there are a lot of similarities as well, like exam stress. Do I have a pathway after I graduate? What am I going to do? And relationships. Should I start living with this person? Should I get married? But also past events that have been left unaddressed. So in my case, it was the Taliban attack. I never received therapy after that. And after, like, seven years, when I started getting these flashbacks that I realized, oh, goodness, this has been left untreated. I Should have received help for this many years ago. But still, you know, I was lucky that I got the support on time. And the therapist diagnosed me with PTSD and anxiety. And, you know, those. Those sessions have been so helpful for me. And I continue to get therapy. And it's not that it has become all easy. I have had many panic attacks after that as well, at different occasions in life. But what I have learned from this is that it's going to be okay. I'm going to make it. And I just hope that a lot of young people get this message that you're going to be okay and don't hesitate.

[Ying Kavat]

And on stage, you spoke about. The pressures were not just external, they were internal.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yes.

[Ying Kavat]

And I want you to tell us about the guilt that you felt in terms of whether it was having fun.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yeah.

[Ying Kavat]

At Oxford, being a student.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yes.

[Ying Kavat]

Or the fact that there was at one stage where you were failing a little bit in your studies, and yet you were this champion for girls education. Can you take us through? Yeah.

[Malala Yousafzai]

I mean, college time was an interesting dynamic because you have to study, socialize, and get some sleep as well. And then for me, there were a few other layers, like advocacy, work, earning for my family, and so many other things that I had to manage in all of that time. And I remember in one week or so, I was in three different countries. I was in Lebanon, then I was at the World Economic Forum, then I was at some other event, and my teachers got really concerned because I was behind in my essays, I was not performing well, and I nearly failed my first year exams. So when I realized, thrown out of Oxford, literally. So then I was like, okay, I need to figure out a way to balance it. But it was important for me to socialize, to sign up for different clubs and go to these activities, because I wanted to meet as many people, like young people my age. Because that's also part of learning. I think learning is not just limited to books. You learn a lot from the people around you. And I was like, okay, I'm gonna socialize as well and get a bit more sleep and also give more time to my studies. And regarding studies, I've noticed that in colleges, the support system is there. There was this academic support office in the college, and it's just a lot of students are not communicated properly how to get that help or they don't approach you. They sort of expect you to, like, find out about them and go to them. But we come from different cultures, and I think it's important for universities to ensure that students actually know about it. So when I found out about the academic support, then I went for it, and that helped me a lot with my studies as well. So in the end, I sort of navigated it and figured it out. But I know a lot of students go through that struggle. I want to tell them that you're not alone. We all go through it.

[Ying Kavat]

You mentioned some of the mental health incidents. There's one in particular which I think many young people would actually associate with. That's a moment in Oxford when you were with friends late at night and you tried something completely new to you. But then the way that your body reacted was actually very, very severe. You collapsed, and you said that it made you feel as though you were, quote, buried alive in the coffin of your body.

[Malala Yousafzai]

So, you know, that was a terrible incident for me because I felt like I was reliving the Taliban attack, and I just could not get out of it. I felt stuck, and I wanted my life to get back to normal. And just, you know, you feel so helpless in that moment. And I've been called brave and courageous my whole life, and I felt so helpless that I was not brave enough that I could help myself through it. And I remember calling my colleague because I was like, somebody helped me out in this. And it was, you know, then, like, months later when I realized that I just can't cope with it anymore. I was getting panic attacks, going through these flashbacks of the Taliban attack, and my body was becoming weak, I was becoming anemic, and I could not even socialize properly with my friends. It was only that a friend of mine suggested that I get therapy. That that's when I started getting therapy. Like, if she hadn't suggested it, I may never have received that support. So it's just really important for us to raise more awareness about mental health. And I'm wondering, like, how many people may not know about it or they feel like nobody understands what I'm going through. And when I receive therapy, it changed everything.

[Ying Kavat]

When you were young, you vowed never to marry. Yes. But after meeting your husband, Asa, all of that changed. So what do you think of marriage now? How has it shaped your perspective of what's possible in a marriage?

[Malala Yousafzai]

I did not want to get married growing up because I was concerned what happens to a girl's life. We saw so many girls below the age of 18 married off. There was one girl who was 11 years old in my grade, who was married off, and her dreams were taken away from her. So growing up, I said, girls should be protected from marriage. We should make it illegal in all countries. But of course, you know, as now I was living in a different country, I was older, I had hesitancy when it came to marriage because I felt that women still have to make a lot more compromises. And especially women who are accomplished just worried if it would change everything in their life because sometimes the guys are not as supportive. And all you want is a secure person who can help make life slightly easier and bring more love into it. I was taking my time on this. I was of course in love with Asar and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. But I was like, I have a billion questions about marriage. I even started this book club with my friend to read feminist authors. And I was like, maybe like Virginia Woolf and bell hooks or somebody can help me out in this. And then in the end, I spent time with Asar where I realized that he is a gentle and a kind person. He's a friend and he is so supportive. And I thought he's the guy I want. He's good looking and funny and laughs at my jokes. And he has all of these qualities. And we both have the same understanding when it comes to marriage. For us, it's about respecting each other and bringing more joy into each other's lives. So I decided to marry him. It doesn't mean that my concerns about marriage are gone now. And I'm like, yeah, yeah, you know, marriage is problemless, everybody should get married. No, I think it's every person's personal decision. And then we have to talk about the bigger problems as well. It's about both people having a happier and more joyful life.

[Ying Kavat]

And in terms of your advocacy for girls education with your Nobel Peace Prize money, you actually established your school in Pakistan in a place called Shangla.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yes. Yeah.

[Ying Kavat]

And I understand there's also another school in Lebanon, is that right?

[Malala Yousafzai]

We've supported schools in Lebanon. We have supported schools in Shangla with the Nobel Peace Prize money. We actually bought a piece of land in my parents village, Shangla, in the north of Pakistan. And I had this dream. I said, this is the place where my mother could not complete her education. This is a place where we still at the time did not have a high school for girls. And everybody said it's a challenging area, it's up in the mountains and it's so hard to construct a school there. And if we make it happen there, we have no excuse not to do it anywhere else in the country. So we started there. We made this amazing state of the art school Started enrolling girls into it. We wanted to make sure that girls get the best education there. And then last year I got an opportunity to visit the school and I met the first class who graduated from that school. These girls were incredible. They are so ambitious. And they were telling me about their dreams that they want to be teachers and engineers and doctors and they want to serve their community. And they were painting and playing chess and playing sports, kicking a ball and playing cricket. And they also had a mental health office, a counselor who they can reach to to talk about any of the challenges that they face. And these girls, you know, just like other students, go through a lot of pressure, but they also have like real challenges at home and on their way to school. From safety and security to also forced marriages. And even just recently, a girl who was only 14 years old was forced into marriage. And the school administration and the local police came in and saved that girl from forced marriage. And we want her to continue her education so she remains in school. We have like saved the lives of so many girls and we have protected them from child marriage and we are helping them continue their education. They are role models to that community and they have changed the future for women and girls in that community.

[Ying Kavat]

So Malala, you mentioned the professions that the girls at your school want to go into. And actually being a doctor is quite traditional path for girls. However, you said several years ago that you want to be the prime minister of Pakistan. Is this still your goal?

[Malala Yousafzai]

No, it's not my goal, Honestly, my goal was actually to bring change in my country. And I feel very lucky that I have a platform like Malala Fund that is dedicated to girls education. And I get to work with incredible people. I mean, like including Rotary here. So we're all going to come together and do our part and ensure we change the future for girls in Pakistan, but also in every other part of the world. I'm dreaming that things change for girls in my hometown. They get to go to school, but also girls in Afghanistan who are banned by the Taliban. Taliban. And they have not seen their classrooms for five years. They live under a gender apartheid. So I hope that the Taliban are held accountable and their school gates are reopened for them. And I have this dream for girl in every part of the world from Brazil to Ethiopia to Tanzania. And this should be a fundamental right that every child should have. And my dream is that the number of out of school girls drops down from 120 million to zero. And I hope we see it in our lifetime.

[Ying Kavat]

So, Malala, there could be tens of Thousands, hundreds of thousands of Rotarians listening to this. What kind of tips can you offer if they want to take practical steps to help women's equity?

[Malala Yousafzai]

Firstly, I want to tell fellow Rotarians that it's not the first time I'm hearing about them. Actually, in Swarth Valley, where I was growing up, my father was a Rotary Club member. He was doing a lot of community work, helping clean the river and, and do cultural events and help get kids get into school. And, you know, here I am, like, speaking to thousands of Rotary Club members. And for me, it's just like this, this full circle. And I just want to, like, tell you all that your work is reaching to so many different parts of the world that you can't even imagine. You know, sometimes you just don't know how far your work is reaching. And I want people to understand the power that it has. And I remind people, like, each individual act matters, so never feel alone when you are getting started. And secondly, it's so important for us to join hands because then we are stronger than ever. We can make our vision into a reality. So I want to thank everybody for their service and I want to push you all to do more, be more ambitious, be bold in the work that you do and keep it going.

[Ying Kavat]

Manalit Yousaf Zayt, thank you so much for joining Rotary Voices and for your work.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Thank you so much. This episode of the Rotary Voices Podcast

[Ying Kavat]

was produced by JP Swenson and edited by Wen Huang.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Production by Joe Dissolt. Ying Kavat was our host.

[Ying Kavat]

If you enjoyed the show, please rate us five stars on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and share it with your friends. The Rotary Voices podcast is a production of Rotary Magazine, the official monthly publication of Rotary International. Thanks for listening.