Search
Close this search box.

Contact

Search
Close this search box.

Malala Yousafzai a ‘powerful symbol of hope’: World Bank chief

WASHINGTON: World Bank President Jim Yong Kim on Thursday called Malala Yousafzai, who survived an assassination attempt for her campaign for girls’ schooling, a symbol of hope and courage for the world’s children.

“For the 400 million children still living in extreme poverty — including far too many girls and boys who are not in school — Malala is a powerful symbol of hope,” Kim said. “She would not be denied. These children also should not be denied a good education and greater opportunity in life.”

He described Malala, who survived a nearly fatal gunshot to the head last year in an attack on her schoolbus, as a “courageous young woman who has inspired the world with her fearless advocacy for greater tolerance and education for girls around the world.” Kim was speaking at the opening of the annual meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, where he singled out the 16-year-old Pakistani girl as representative of the struggle against poverty.

Malala has been nominated to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and earlier Thursday was awarded the prestigious Sakharov human rights prize by the European Parliament.

Daily Times