Malala Yousafzai was born a little different. From the beginning, her father, Ziauddin, treated her differently than most fathers in Swat, Pakistan treated their daughters. He put her on the family tree, a position usually reserved for the men in the family and nicknamed her Jani Mun, or soulmate.
Her father worked hard to found a successful school. He met roadblocks several times, but eventually opened a school he could maintain. Ziauddin had longed to learn ever since he was a child. Though he once wanted to become a militant Muslim, he realized his error. Without much support from his family, he went away to college. There, he became a great public speaker and debater. His education pushed him to pursue public debate and advocacy. Through his desire to bring change to his country, he spoke about education, the environment, and government. He ruffled feathers, but never backed down.
The Swat Valley in Pakistan faced many challenges throughout Malala’s life, including an earthquake, a takeover by the Taliban, a military operation, and flooding. Infrastructure was ruined and culture destroyed when Buddhas were blown up and people murdered. The Taliban and others threatened Malala and her family’s beliefs about education and women’s rights. With the increasing challenges faced by the valley came increased pressure on Malala and her father to stop advocating for education. Even Malala’s extended family sees her as a “modern” girl and fears for her safety.