Apple revealed it is partnering with Malala Yousafzai to help fund education for girls around the world.
The company announced that it will help the Malala Fund, which helps offer free education and extended funding programs to girls in India and Latin America.
The Malala Fund was set up back in 2013 by Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai. The fund partners with governments, world organizations, and private companies to fight for girl’s rights. It is dedicated to bringing free, safe, and quality education to girls everywhere. The Malala Fund's Gulmakai Network is currently supporting programs in Pakistan, Lebanon, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Nigeria.
With Apple's help, the Malala fund's initial goal is to extend educational opportunities to more than 10,000 girls. The company is the fund’s first Laureate partner and Tim Cook is stepping to the front lines and joining the leadership council.
Cook responded to the news via Twitter saying how proud he is to support Malala and her goal to bring education to young girls. Check out his tweet below:
Apple is proud to support the courageous, visionary @Malala in advancing every girl’s right to 12 years of free, safe, quality education. Together we’re committing to expand the reach of @MalalaFund and provide secondary school opportunities to girls around the world. https://t.co/K9I64tJTWh
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) January 22, 2018
Malala also spoke out about the news thanking Apple and Tim Cook for the support. She took to Twitter saying that she was grateful to her friend and his company for investing in young girls' education around the world.
I am grateful to my friend Tim and @Apple for investing in our dream of a world where every girl can choose her own future. Together we will support the incredible girls we met in Beirut and millions like them around the world. https://t.co/nMm8aOuQVy — Malala (@Malala) January 22, 2018
Who Is Malala Yousafzai?
For those unaware of who Malala Yousafzai is, she is a Pakistani activist for female education.
Malala is known for her human rights advocacy, especially the education of women and children in her native Swat Valley in Pakistan, where the Taliban had once banned girls from attending school.
The Taliban issued death threats against Malala before a gunman shot her in 2012 as she rode the bus home from school. She survived the shooting to her head, neck, and shoulder and spent three months in the hospital recovering. The murder attempt caused worldwide outrage and brought more attention to her work.
In response, Malala was praised by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and U.S. President Barack Obama.
Even celebrities including Madonna and Angelina Jolie joined in to condemn the attack and support equal rights for girls.
