Texts for Ryan and Malala's Stories

1. I AM MALALA
by Malala Yousafzai
I was born in Mingora, Pakistan on July
12, 1997. My father was a teacher. He ran
a girls’ school in our village. I loved
school. But everything changed when the
Taliban took control of our town in Swat
Valley. They said girls could no longer go
to school.
In January 2008 when I was just 11 years
old, I said goodbye to my classmates. I did
not know if I will see them again. I spoke
out and I wanted all girls like me to go to
school. This made the Taliban angry.
In October 2012, on my way home from
school, a masked gunman got on my
school bus and asked, “Who is Malala?”
He shot me on the left side of my head. After months of getting better in the hospital, I joined my
family in our new home in the United Kingdom. I have two choices: I could live a quiet life or I
could make the most of this new life and continue my fight until every girl could go to school.
In recognition of our work, I received the Nobel Peace Prize in December 2014 and became the
youngest person to receive it.
Now I am studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford. And every
day I fight to ensure all girls receive 12 years of free, safe, quality education.
I travel to many countries to meet girls fighting poverty, wars, child marriage and gender
discrimination to go to school. Malala Fund is working so that their stories, like mine, can be
heard around the world.
With more than 130 million girls out of school today, there is more work to be done. I hope you
will join my fight for education and equality. Together, we can create a world where all girls can
learn and lead.

2. RYAN’S STORY
by Ryan Hreljac
One day in January 1998, I was sitting
in my Grade One classroom. My
teacher, Mrs. Prest, explained that
people were sick and some were even
dying because they didn’t have clean
water. She told us that some people
walked for hours in Africa and
sometimes it was just to get dirty
water.
So, I went home and begged my mom
and dad to help. After a few days, they
told me I could do extra chores to earn
the $70 I thought would build a well. I
thought that’s all it would take to solve
the world’s water problem. I worked for four months to earn my first $70. Then I learned that it
was actually going to cost $2,000 to build a well in a place like Uganda. I also learned that the
problem was way bigger than I realized.
I started speaking to service clubs, school classes, to anyone who would listen to my story so that
I could raise money for my first well at Angolo Primary School in Uganda. That’s how my little
Grade One project became the Ryan’s Well Foundation.
I attended University of King’s College in Halifax on the east coast of Canada. I’ve just
completed my studies in international development and political science, but remain involved
with the foundation as a Project Manager. I speak around the world on water issues and on the
importance of making a difference no matter who you are or how old you are.
My work would not happen without the support of my family and friends. My Ugandan pen pal,
Jimmy Akana, who I met on my first trip to Uganda, is now a member of our family. Jimmy is
an inspiration because he works hard and has a positive outlook. He always has a great big smile.
My advice to anyone is that in order to make a positive change in the world, you need to find
something you are passionate about and then you need to take steps to act. For me, the issue is
water and sanitation.
Water is essential to all life. I hope my story is a reminder that we can all make a difference – it
applies to each and every one of us.