Activist Malala Yousafzai is teaming up with Apple to work towards providing quality education for girls across the globe!
According to Mashable, Apple announced that it will serve as the first Laureate partner for The Malala Fund, Malala’s own charity. As that partner, the company will be working directly with Malala and her team as they continue their work to give girls 12 years of “free, safe, quality education.”
Malala met with Apple CEO Tim Cook in England some months back, wanting to collaborate to make a real difference in this world, particularly in education. The two even went on to visit Lebanese and Syrian students in Beirut, together!
“We believe that education is a great equalizing force, and we share Malala Fund’s commitment to give every girl an opportunity to go to school,” Tim said of involving Apple in the venture. “Malala is a courageous advocate for equality. She’s one of the most inspiring figures of our time, and we are honored to help her extend the important work she is doing to empower girls around the world.”
Malala added in a statement of her own:
“Through both their innovations and philanthropy, Apple has helped educate and empower people around the world. I am grateful that Apple knows the value of investing in girls and is joining Malala Fund in the fight to ensure all girls can learn and lead without fear.”
With an estimated 130 million girls around the world out of school, the first goal is to provide over 100,000 of them with chances to continue their education. With Apple on its side, the Malala Fund is expected to receive twice the number of grants, and provide funding programs to areas like India and Latin America.
Of course, Malala has taken a major stance on the importance of education, particularly for girls, for a long time now, even before her attempted murder in 2012 by a Taliban gunman. Knowing that she could be harmed or even killed for taking a stand for education, Malala continued on anyway. Now, she is using her ideas and platform to truly help other girls receive an education of their own.
It’s incredible what she’s been able to do so far. But, with this collab with Apple, she and her foundation will be able to do so much more! Can’t wait to see what’s ahead.
Imperfectly B 