He Named Me Malala TV Premier
/Your values and education are two possessions that cannot be stolen from you. Luckily for Malala Yousafzai, education is one of her top values and in spite of every obstacle she has encountered, she has made a clear statement that she will persevere. For those of you who aren't familiar with her courageous story, let me give you a five sentence summary: Malala was born in Swat Valley, Pakistan to parents who helped nurture her love for knowledge and learning.
In 2009, the Taliban increased its influence in Pakistan and made several demands: a ban on television and music, women were't allowed to shop, and Malala's father Ziauddin had to close his school. Regardless of those demands, Malala and her father continued to speak out about the importance of education and her fearlessness enabled her to receive Pakistan's first National Youth Peace Prize.
In 2012, the Taliban boarded Malala's school bus with the intention to kill her by shooting her in the head. Miraculously Malala survived and continued to advocate even more diligently for access to education for not only the children in her county, but children all over the world.
My five sentences don't do Malala's journey justice but her film, "He Named Me Malala" does and on February 29 at 8pm EST on the National Geographic Channel, you will get the chance to watch this inspirational film in the comfort of your own home!
Months ago I was honored to become a "He Named Me Malala" ambassador to help spread the word about the dynamic documentary. I was able to join a conference call with Malala and see the movie when it first debuted in theaters.
I loved the film because it humanizes Malala; you realize that although she is a change agent, she is still a teenage girl. She has fights with her little brother and has to teach her parents about social media- things that teenagers across the world deal with every day.
My Top 5 Favorite Quotes from the Film
- "I rather be a lion for a day instead of a slave for 100 years."
- "If I keep silent, I lose the right to live."
- "I chose this life and now I must continue it."
- "We notice the importance of our voice when we are silenced."
- "When you educate a girl, it transforms our world."
Malala is the epitome of resilient and exudes the motto we have for Don't Die Afraid. I am excited to host a watch party on February 29 at 8pm EST on the National Geographic Channel to introduce my friends to her story.
Get involved and take a stand #withMalala
1. Tweet using the hashtag #withMalala to share her story with your friends. 21st Century Fox will donate $1 to the Malala Fund for every Tweet. Below are some quick sample tweets!
"I stand #withMalala #DontDieAfraid"
"Support girls' education #withMalala @21CF will donate $1 to @MalalaFund"
2. Live tweet with @MalalaFund: The Malala Fund will be live-tweeting from @MalalaFund using #withMalala during the broadcast. Follow along for behind-the-scenes photos and stories, as well as information on how you can take action for girls’ education. 3. Fill a Schoola bag: Have your friends and family gather gently used clothes and fill a Schoola Bag. Send it in and 40% of the proceeds will go to the Malala Fund! It's an easy way to get a lot of people involved, raise awareness and funds, and it costs absolutely nothing! Read more about the program and request a bag here.
