Last week Malala Yousafzai met with the prime minister of Canada Justin Trudeau. During this meeting, she gave a beautiful speech to the Canadian Parliament. Prime Minister Trudeau also made Malala an honorary citizen, Canada's youngest! Here are 11 quotes I believe everyone needs to hear right now from her speech.
1. "The man who attacked Parliament Hill called himself a Muslim — but he did not share my faith. He did not share the faith of one and a half billion Muslims, living in peace around the world. He did not share our Islam — a religion of learning, compassion, and mercy. I am a Muslim and I believe that when you pick up a gun in the name of Islam and kill innocent people, you are not a Muslim anymore. He did not share my faith. Instead, he shared the hatred of the man who attacked the Quebec City mosque in January, killing six people while they were at prayer. The same hatred as the man who killed civilians and a police officer in London three weeks ago. The same hatred as the men who killed 132 school children at Pakistan’s Army Public School in Peshawar. The same hatred as the man who shot me. These men tried to divide us and destroy our democracies, our freedom of religion, our right to go to school."
2. "“Welcome to Canada” is more than a headline or a hashtag. It is the spirit of humanity that every single one of us would yearn for if our family was in crisis. I pray that you continue to open your homes and your hearts to the world’s most defenseless children and families — and I hope your neighbors will follow your example. "
3. "I was also so happy to meet your Prime Minister this morning. I am amazed by his embrace of refugees, his commitment to appointing Canada’s first gender-balanced cabinet and his dedication to keeping women and girls at the center of your development strategy."
4. "While it may be true that he is young for a head of government, I would like to tell the children of Canada: you do not have to be as old as Prime Minister Trudeau to be a leader! I used to think I had to wait to be an adult to lead. But I’ve learned that even a child’s voice can be heard around the world. Young women of Canada, step forward and raise your voices. The next time I visit, I hope I see more of you filling these seats in Parliament."
5. "Men of Canada, be proud feminists. And help women get equal opportunities as men."
6. 'I have travelled the world and met people in many countries. I’ve seen firsthand many of the problems we are facing today — war, economic instability, climate change and health crises. And I can tell you that the answer is girls. "
7. "Secondary education for girls can transform communities, countries and our world."
8. "Education is vital for security around the world … because extremism grows alongside inequality — in places where people feel they have no opportunity, no voice, no hope. When women are educated, there are more jobs for everyone. When mothers can keep their children alive and send them to school, there is hope."
9. "Through the Sustainable Development Goals, our nations promised every girl she would go to school for 12 years. We promised that donor countries and developing countries would work together to make this dream a reality for the poorest girls in the world. "
10. I stand with girls, as someone who knows what it’s like to flee your home and wonder if you’ll ever go back to school. I stand with girls, as someone who knows how it feels to have your right to education taken away and your dreams threatened. I know where I stand. If you stand with me, I ask you to seize every opportunity for girls’ education over the next year."
11. "Let future generations say we were the ones who stood up. Let them say we were the first to live in a world where all girls can learn and lead without fear. "
Malala is a huge inspiration to me and I am so thankful for the Canadian government for letting her speak and all they have done and will continue to do for gender equality.
Here is the link to the speech!
