Malala Yousafzai Receives The 2014 Liberty Medal In Philadelphia

By Diana Rocco and Pat Loeb

In a touching tribute to freedom and education, 17-year-old Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner, received this year’s Liberty Medal for her fight for children’s right to education.

“I speak for those without voice. I speak for every child whose right to education has been neglected,” Malala Yousafzai said. An unusually young audience filled the seats at this year’s Liberty Medal ceremony, but that was fitting.

There were plenty of important adults in the tent on the lawn of the National Constitution Center as CEO Jeffrey Rosen introduced Malala, but the evening belonged to the young people, the 17-year-old’s peers, whom she often seemed to be addressing directly.

“It is we who make history, it is we who become the history. So let us make history, bring change, by becoming the change,” she said. Malala suggested countries stop buying weapons and spend the money on education as a more effective tool against terrorism and reminded: “We all need to protect children’s rights,” she said.

She said she knew she was asking a lot, but the young audience seemed prepared to answer the call.

At 11, Malala began writing published journal entries about living under the Taliban rule in Pakistan and against keeping women out of school. “I had two options. One was not to speak and wait to be killed. And the second was to speak, and then be killed. And I chose the second one because I did not want to live in that situation of oppression,” she said.

Six years ago, three Taliban gunmen boarded her school bus and shot her in the head.

“I realized that liberty comes at a high price and the Taliban attacked me in order to silence me,” she said. “Weakness, fear and hopelessness died and strength, power and courage was born.”

“The courage and hope embodied by Malala should serve as a call to action,” First Lady Michelle Obama said.

Malala’s voice has inspired world leaders and given hope to young women. Her journal entries were read on stage by local teens with their own accomplishments.

“She’s had a hard fight and now she’s here. Her stories are being told everywhere,” Taney Dragons pitcher Mo’ne Davis said.

“For her to go beyond those boundaries it really inspires everybody,” Mt. Saint Joseph Academy student Colleen McBride said. During the ceremony, Malala announced that the $100,000 she receives for being awarded the Liberty Medal will go to educating children in Pakistan.