Malala visits ancestral Shangla village

MINGORA/ALPURI: Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai on Wednesday visited her ancestral village of Barkana Shahpur in Shangla district, where she interacted with the local community.

Arriving via helicopter from Islamabad, Malala was accompanied by her father Ziauddin Yousafzai and her mother Toor Pekai.

The visit was marked by a warm and emotional welcome from her family and schoolchildren. After arrival, Malala took the opportunity to reconnect with relatives and visit her childhood home, spending time in the place where she had spent her early life.

In a significant part of her visit, Malala toured the Malala Yousafzai School, a facility she established for orphaned and underprivileged girls. There, she met with students, listened to their concerns, and offered her support. The students shared their experiences with Malala. The students presented patriotic songs and speeches in Urdu and Pashto, highlighting the significance of education. Malala praised the school administration for its efforts and distributed awards among the top-performing students. She also emphasized the importance of education for children, particularly young girls, in remote areas like Shangla.

Malala also participated in an event at Shahpur Girls High School, where she engaged with the students and teachers. Her presence was a moment of great pride for the local community. The visit not only highlighted Malala’s deep connection to her roots but also underscored her ongoing commitment to girls’ education and empowerment.

Malala Yousafzai also acknowledged the contributions of Shehzad Roy, the founder of Zindagi Trust, and expressed her gratitude for his efforts in promoting education.

After a day of emotional reunions and inspiring interactions, Malala departed Shangla, heading back to Islamabad, leaving behind a message of hope and determination for the future.

Malala Yousafzai’s visit to her hometown was hailed as a powerful reminder of the importance of education and the impact of her advocacy for girls’ rights globally.