EDUCATION:
Empowering Education for Girls: Mashal Sets Up Malala Fund
Mashal of San Francisco Bay Area held a benefit fundraiser at the Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., to assist a Pakistani girl’s vision to spread education. An effort called the “Malala Fund” has been incubated by the Vital Voices Global Partnership to help international educational icon Malala Yousafzai in spreading female literacy in Pakistan and beyond, writes Ras H. Siddiqui.
(Above): Malala Yousafzai going to school. [Photo Courtesy: Ras H. Siddiqui]
According to the Vital Voices website, “The Malala Fund supports education and empowerment of girls in Pakistan and around the world.” The focus is on education for girls, something a few people may take for granted here, but without it chances of success even in America are low.
A brief background on Malala Yousafzai. She is a Pakistani teenager who recently became the youngest nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize. In October 2012, at a young age of fifteen, she was shot in the head by extremists in the town of Mingora located in the picturesque valley of Swat, Pakistan (ironically a place of great beauty where honeymooners once used to go). Named after a Pashtun female warrior and poetess, Malala took a very public stand for her right to an education and against the extremists in the area who oppose it and blow up girl’s schools, often threatening those who want their daughters to get an education in the region.
These extremists could not tolerate her defiance and shot her and two others as they were returning home from school. The bullet went through her head (she is lucky to be alive) and since then she has been treated at various medical facilities, most recently at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, England. She is currently residing in the United Kingdom these days still recovering from her injuries and going to school there.
On education, she remains as determined as ever in spite of the challenges created for someone who has been shot in the head.
If there is a cause as worthy as Malala’s, one could certainly count on the Mashal organization to take it up.
(Above): A placard displays a message to donate. [Photo: Ras H. Siddiqui]
The afternoon, on May 11, started off with a children’s parade during which they carried signs showing their solidarity with Malala Yousafzai’s vision and encouraging the generosity of potential donors. Emcee for the evening Omar Khan opened the formalities by wishing a “Happy Mother’s Day” to the mother’s present. May 11 was also Election Day in Pakistan and many in attendance including Omar showed their support for the democratic process there. Omar praised the resilience of the Pakistani people and their determination to vote. On Malala he mentioned a documentary he had seen and how moving it was, reminding him of his own daughter. He added that while Malala was being transported out of Pakistan after the attack on her he bowed down and prayed like many other Pakistanis. “Although Malala is an international figure today, she is ours. She is from Pakistan,” he said. “And all of these terrorists do not represent Pakistan.” In a message to others he said. “We oppose and hate them as much as you do.” He also added, “No matter how many schools the bad guys blow up, we are going to create even more schools. And more importantly we are going to create more girls’ schools.”
Keynote speaker Congressmen Eric Swalwell said, “For me, I believe gender equality starts with education.” He added that it was important that we had assembled here at a high school, a focal point for education and that education for children all over the world should be a priority. He spoke about the benefits of education to all, especially education for girls. “I am inspired by Malala’s story. I am inspired by her bravery,” he said. “Let her be a symbol for all of us,” he added. He praised her determination and thanked Mashal for highlighting this cause. He presented a Congressional Certificate of Recognition to The Mashal Organization that read “Thank you for your hard work benefitting the Malala Fund and fostering cultural unity in our community.”
(Above): Mashal kids pose for a photo. [Photo: Ras H. Siddiqui]
After introducing items for auction including table centerpieces and artwork, Omar Khan also recognized two young people, Minahil Afzaal a second grader who raised the most money for the Malala Fund, and 9th grader Simrah Farrukh for her excellent photography covering community events.
Mayor Clarkson expressed his support for the diversity of the area and pride in the fact that Dougherty Valley High School had received very high rankings in California and the entire country. San Ramon was also identified as the wealthiest city in America according to a recent article. “We are truly blessed,” he said.
Omar next introduced the entertainment segment featuring versatile singers Zeenat Naeem and Nayan who could easily add Fateh Ali Khan to his last name. But we were first sidetracked by a group of young ladies who decided to present a colorful dance to the Punjabi song “Balle Balle.” One can suspect that that there was an ulterior motive to this interruption because “Balle” and “Ballay” (Cricket Bat) sound almost the same and the election symbol in Pakistan of a political party very popular amongst those in attendance here was a cricket bat. Its leader (Imran Khan) has been referred to as “Ballay Khan” on occasions.
(Above): Mashal kids pose for a photo. [Photo: Ras H. Siddiqui]
The group “Dream To Play” was also recognized for holding a charity cricket tournament for the same great cause. The group was represented by Zeeshan Khan, who presented a substantial check to Vital Voices from that fundraiser. There was also a welcome introduction of Zakir Siddiqui whose English song “Out of Goodbye’s” received widespread appreciation.
In conclusion, once again Mashal has shown that it is in tune with the pulse of our community. This gathering, in which kids served the tasty lunch and always remained at the forefront, was not only a fundraiser for the Malala Fund, it was a salute to Malala Yousafzai herself, her bravery against extremism, and a rallying cry for those who want education for all. This scribe would like to add here that we as a community support those who believe that young girls should have books in their hands, dreams in their eyes, and not titanium plates in their skulls (like Malala).
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Ras Hafiz Siddiqui is a South Asian American writer. He lives in Sacramento, Calif.
