Malala Yousafzai’s varsity life
As an activist for girls’ education, Malala Yousafzai knows how to tackle tough tasks. These days she plans parties at her university res!
Malala with her Nobel Peace Prize (ABOVE) and her fellow students at Oxford University (ABOVE RIGHT).
SHE’S held her own with dignitaries and presidents, is the youngest Nobel Peace laureate in history and has been fighting since the age of 11 for girls’ right to education – a cause she nearly died for. But what is Malala Yousafzai doing now? Organising parties for university students – among more studious pursuits.
A first-year student of philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University’s Lady Margaret Hall (LMH) college, Malala has settled in famously. She’s been elected her residence’s social secretary, placing her in charge of organising “bops”. Bops are notoriously debauched affairs at Oxford and had been banned at LMH for a while after a student was caught urinating in the library.
Malala (21), a devout Muslim, was elected to the role along with fellow student Tiger Akawin. Their manifesto leaflet – which shows Malala’s face superimposed on scenes of students partying – jokingly lists Tiger’s achievements, adding that “Malala’s also done some good stuff”.
Which is an understatement of course. At the age of 15 Malala was shot in the head, neck and shoulder by a Taliban fighter on her way home from school in her native Pakistan. The militant group wanted her dead after discovering she was the author of an anonymous diary about life under the extremists.
After recovering from her near-fatal injuries she moved with her family to the United Kingdom where she became the poster child for gender equality and was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. Now she’s at Oxford where, friends claim, she’s treated like everyone else.
T HE fascinating insight into Malala’s student life came soon after Mullah Fazlullah, head of the Pakistan Taliban who ordered the hit on her, was recently killed in a US drone strike in Afghanistan. Malala hasn’t said anything publicly about this.
Her fellow students believe her work as a human rights campaigner makes her perfectly suited to her new role as party planner. “She’s dealt with some of the most famous people on the planet and now she has responsibility for college parties,” one says.
In their flyer, Malala and Tiger promise “plenty of events for those who aren’t keen on alcohol, crowds of people or loud music” but also vow to keep the booze flowing. “Malala doesn’t drink but doesn’t mind others doing so,” a friend says.
In between bops and her studies, Malala loves listening to music and eating at local cafés. “We’re both from Birmingham, from backgrounds with similar traditions,” close friend Varaidzo Kativhu says. “Sometimes we stay up all night listening to Beyoncé and Rihanna and eating Indian takeaways.”
M ALALA is also a member of the university’s women’s cricket club and earlier this year told talk-show host David Letterman the sport reminded her of home. “We used to play it on our rooftop, in the streets – no rules,” she said.
She’s left alone at college to do her own thing, Varaidzo adds. “People here respect her space. You have to earn your respect at LMH, even if you’re one of the most famous young women in the world.”
Malala is guarded 24/7 by two armed plain-clothed police officers. The cops, stationed in a room next to hers, serve as a constant reminder of everything she’s sacrificed to get where she is today: studying – and enjoying herself – at one of the best universities in the world.