'I am Malala' incorporated in George Washington University curriculum

Pakistani teenage activist Malala Yousufzai’s inspirational memoir, 'I am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban' has compelled George Washington University's Leadership Program to incorporate it into its Summer Reading Series Symposium, according to the university's website.

To further expand the reach of Malala's memoir, the GWU, in collaboration with the Malala Fund, has also developed a resource guide for high school, college and university students. Launched in Nov 2014 with Malala's father Ziauddin Yousufzai in attendance, the resource guide supports global efforts to mobilise people to address girls’ rights to an education.

In order to ensure that the resource guide does justice to Malala’s story, the Global Women’s Institute has convened a committee comprising GW faculty with expertise in a wide range of disciplines — including international affairs, media studies, language and literature, religion, history, women’s studies, leadership studies and education.

Malala was 15 when a Taliban gunman shot her in the head as she travelled on a school bus in response to her campaign for girls' education.

Although her injuries almost killed her, she recovered after being flown for extensive surgery in Birmingham, central England.

She has been based in England with her family ever since, continuing both her education and activism.

Last year, the 17-year-old became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. She won the prize along with Indian campaigner Kailash Satyarthi, 60, who has fought for 35 years to free thousands of children from virtual slave labour.