By Pervez Saleem:
Malala Yousafzai
Malala Fund
Video: YouTube
Education is the key for women to achieve economic independence. Although women in the majority of countries have the right to an education, equal access to education for women remains a problem. In developing and developed countries alike, millions women do not finish school because they are forced (by their society, by their circumstances or by the threat of violence) to focus on household, caregiving and child-rearing responsibilities.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela
“There is no greater pillar of stability than a strong, free, and educated woman.”
Angelina Jolie
“We should be respectful but we must also have the courage to stop harmful practices that impoverish girls, women and their communities.”
Graca Machel
“The seeds of success in every nation on Earth are best planted in women and children.”
Joyce Band
Malala and Ziauddin Yousafzai founded Malala Fund in 2013 to champion every girl’s right to 12 years of free, safe, quality education. Together our board, leadership council, staff and champions are creating a more equal world by making sure all girls can go to school.
Malala Fund is working for a world where every girl can learn and lead.
Traditional approaches aren’t cutting it.
How We Work
Malala Fund invests in education advocates and activists who are challenging the policies and practices that prevent girls from going to school in their communities.
At this moment, nearly 130 million girls are out of school. Even more are in school but not learning. That’s why Malala Fund is focused on accelerating progress — challenging systems, policies and practices so all girls can access 12 years of free, safe, quality education.
We don’t build schools. We build networks.
Inspired by Malala and Ziauddin’s activist roots, Malala Fund believes that local educators and advocates provide the greatest insight, innovation and energy needed to address barriers that keep girls out of school in their communities.
Through our Education Champion Network, we invest in their work so they can scale their efforts and leverage their collective power to create broader change to make it easier for all girls to learn.
Our Girl Programme gives girls the tools they need to advocate for education and equality in their communities and a platform for the world to hear their voices. By supporting youth activists, investing in local organisations and amplifying the voices of young women, Malala Fund is creating a world where girls have the agency to address the barriers standing in the way of their dreams.
We don’t accept the status quo. We fight to change it.
Social norms can influence attitudes and policies that shape girls’ opportunities to learn. Through programming and advocacy with local partners, we’re challenging the beliefs, behaviours and legislation that prevent girls from going to school and learning on equal terms with boys.
We don’t talk down to girls. We listen.
The girls we serve have high goals for themselves — and we have high expectations for the leaders who can help them achieve their goals. Malala Fund created Assembly, a digital publication and newsletter, as a platform for girls to speak out about the issues holding them back.
Delivering tangible change in targeted geographies
In the next five years, Malala Fund will significantly increase our investment in our network of education advocates and expand in up to 10 new countries, at a rate of one to two countries per year.
We are realistic about the work ahead. We know there are no straight lines or overnight solutions to getting all girls in school and learning.
By 2025, we want to see a substantial increase in well-educated girls in the countries where we work, improved and better-financed education systems and communities that offer girls equal opportunities to learn and actively support their ambitions.
For more information about Malala Fund’s goals and the details of our approach, read our strategic plan.
Commitment to accountability
Malala Fund holds leaders accountable for their commitments to girls — and we hold ourselves to the same standards. We regularly assess our impact, apply findings to future work and share our results.
“You will never know who stands with you if you don’t stand up first.” Malala
P.O. Box 73767
Washington, D.C. 20056
If you would like to mail a donation via check, please make your check out to “Malala Fund.”
Please mail checks sent via the US Postal Service to:
The Malala Fund
Lockbox 11114
P.O. Box 70280
Philadelphia, PA 19176-0280
Please mail checks sent via FedEx or UPS to:
The Malala Fund
Lockbox 11114
400 White Clay Center Drive
Newark, DE 19711
All other correspondence can also be sent to:
Malala Fund
P.O. Box 73767
Washington, D.C. 20056
Please email info@malalafund.org with any digital letters or requests.
“I tell my story not because it is unique, but because it is the story of many girls.” -Malala
Support Malala’s fight for girls’ education
With more than 130 million girls out of school today, she needs your help breaking down the barriers that hold girls back.
Your gift today is an investment in Malala Fund programs that help girls around the world go to school.
