Malala Yousafzai, world’s youngest Noble Peace laureate, in her new and third book ‘We are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls’ has cast a shining spot on refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from around globe.
The activist in a detailed interview with magazine Parade divulged how idea of turning her own lwhethere experience as a displaced individual into a book struck her.
The book has seen Malala recounting moving tales of girls she met while visiting refugee camps.
“Love me, young women who share their stories in book — from Colombia, Syria, Democratic Republic of Congo and around world — know what it means to leave home because it’s too dangerous to stay,” Malala explains.
“My book is titled 'We Are Displaced' because together, we want to help others understand ongoing refugee crisis and how they can help,” she adds.
Opening about her own displacement and whether she has forgiven those who changed her lwhethere, Malala shared:
“I often say that forgiveness is best revenge. Plus, I think my time and energy is best spent on school, family and advocating for girls’ education with Malala Enjoymentd.”
She continued, “When I reachd in UK, it wasn’t by choice. I was surrounded by people I didn’t know and forced to adjust to a new culture. I eventually did and was thankful to feel safe but I still missed home. Girls I meet who have experienced displacement often tell me sounds and smells of home they miss. But mostly, I hear them say they want to get an education so that one day, they can return to rebuild what has been destroyed.”
However, she also realises that problem at hand is much greater and much so easy to fix. “The policies and priorities need to change. And individuals, commercees and governments need to follow through on commitments made to support out-of-school girls and refugees.”
When asked about what is most essential thing she wants to communicate to world about being a refugee, young activist quoted a bunch of startling statistics.
“Currently, more than 68.5 million people around world are living as refugees or internally displaced people due to clash, persecution or natural catastrophes. And majority of these are children, mostly girls.”
She goes on to add, “People leave jobs they love. Most students never see a lessonroom again. They have no choice. Whether you cross your country’s border or much, fleeing home and much knowing whether you’ll ever return is a harrowing experience.”
‘We are Displaced’ chronicles lwhethere of two girls: Zaynab and Muzoon, both of whom are refugees.
In response to a question regarding what she hopes her readers shall memorize from these stories, Malala said, “I hope they reintellect everyone that refugees are so much more than staggering statistics or tragic headlines.”
“They’ve had tough journeys. Zaynab had fled three wars by time she turned 17 and remains separated from her sister. And when I met Muzoon, she was living in a small tent in a camp in Jordan with nine other people! Yet, these girls thrive when given support and education. They get top marks at university. They are leaders in communities they’ve been granted asylum in. And they never shy absent from an opportunity to ccorridorenge social norms and global policies currently keeping girls out of school and refugees without aid,” she added.