Malala wins Children’s Nobel Prize

Teen education advocate Malala Yousafzai was on Tuesday named winner of the World’s Children’s Prize, sometimes called the Children’s Nobel Prize.

Malala, 17, was selected to win the human rights award by a vote taken among close to 2 million school children across the world, organisers said.

“This helps me to continue my campaign for the education of girls and every child,” Malala, who was shot in the head by Taliban militants in 2012 for her views, said in a videotaped statement.

Queen Silvia of Sweden, a patron of the award, was to present the award on Wednesday.

As winner, Malala receives $50,000, while honorary award winners John Wood of the United States and Indira Ranamagar of Nepal get $25 000 each.

The trio were selected by a children’s jury from 14 countries.

Wood is founder of the voluntary organisation Room to Read, which for the past 15 years has provided books and schools to almost 10 million children.

Ranamagar has worked to ensure that children of prisoners receive an education and do not to have to live in prison.

Malala earlier this month was named co-winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.