Malala's Letter To Nigeria's Abducted Schoolgirls: 'solidarity, Love, And Hope'

Malala with President Jonathan

To my brave sisters, the kidnapped schoolgirls of Chibok,

On this first anniversary of your captivity, I write to you with a message

of solidarity, love and hope.

My name is Malala. I am a Pakistani girl your age. I am one of the

millions of people around the world who keep you and your families

foremost in our thoughts and prayers. We cannot imagine the full extent

of the horrors you have endured. But please know this: We will never

forget you. We will always stand with you. Today and every day, we call

on the Nigerian authorities and the international community to do more

to bring you home. We will not rest until you have been reunited with

your families.

Like you, I was a target of militants who did not want girls to go to

school. Gunmen shot me and two of my friends on a school bus. All

three of us survived and are back in school. Now we speak out on

behalf of all girls about the right to get a proper education. Our

campaign will continue until you and all girls and boys around the world

are able to access a free, safe and quality secondary education.

Last July, I spent my 17th birthday in Nigeria with some of your

parents and five of your classmates who escaped the kidnapping. Your

parents are grief-stricken. They love you, and they miss you. My father

and I wept and prayed with your parents -- and they touched our

hearts. The escapee schoolgirls my father and I met impressed us with

their resolve to overcome their challenges and to complete their high

school education. My father and I promised your parents and the girls

who had escaped that we would do all we could to help them. I met

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and urged him to work harder for

your freedom. I also asked President Jonathan to meet your parents

and the girls who escaped the kidnapping, which he did a few days

later. Still, in my opinion, Nigerian leaders and the international

community have not done enough to help you. They must do much

more to help secure your release. I am among many people pressuring

them to make sure you are freed.

There are reasons for hope and optimism. Nigerian forces are re-

gaining territory and protecting more schools. Nigeria's newly-elected

president, Muhammadu Buhari, has vowed to make securing your

freedom a top priority and promised his government will not tolerate

violence against women and girls.

"You will have the opportunity to receive the education you want and

deserve. The Malala Fund and other organizations offered all your

classmates who escaped the kidnapping full scholarships to complete

their secondary education. Most of the escapee girls accepted this

scholarship and are now continuing their studies at a safe boarding

school and with the support they need. We hope to someday extend that

same scholarship to all 219 of you, when you return home.

Remember that one day your tragic ordeal will end, you will be reunited

with your families and friends, and you will have the chance to finish

the education you courageously sought. I look forward to the day I can

hug each one of you, pray with you, and celebrate your freedom with

your families. Until then, stay strong, and never lose hope. You are my

heroes.

Your sister,

Malala