PHOTOS: Malala visits Kurdistan on her birthday, promotes education for displaced girls

Pakistani activist and Nobile Prize Winner makes her first visit to the Kurdistan Region celebrating her birthday among Kurdish youth and IDPs.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The world-renowned Pakistani activist and Nobel Prize winner visited the Kurdistan Region to celebrate her birthday among Kurdish youth and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Erbil.

 

Malala Yousafzai, globally known for promoting women's education and for being the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate, arrived in Erbil, capital of the Kurdistan Region on Monday and was received by Falah Mustafa Head of Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Department of Foreign Relations at Erbil International Airport.

On Tuesday, Malala joined a female empowerment session organized by the Global Shapers Erbil Hub serving female students.

In a speech, Malala expressed her gratitude for her first visit to Kurdistan Region and Iraq and for being among young Kurdish girls.

“You are all doing a great work, I would like to thank you all for empowering young girls and giving them the opportunity to share their ideas, develop their skills and to be leaders of today and tomorrow,” Malala said.

Malala joined a girls empowerment session in Erbil and celeberated her birthday among Kurdish college and high school students. (Photo: Global Shapers Erbil Hub)
Malala joined a girls empowerment session in Erbil and celeberated her birthday among Kurdish college and high school students. (Photo: Global Shapers Erbil Hub)

Referring to her visit to an IDP camp near Erbil, she stated that she had met with displaced girls, delivering a powerful message about education which is a basic human right.

Malala visited Hassansham camp for the Iraqi displaced people. (Photo: Barzani Charity Foundation)
Malala visited Hassansham camp for the Iraqi displaced people. (Photo: Barzani Charity Foundation)

The KRG PM Nechirvan Barzani met with Malala and accompanied delegation and briefed them about the humanitarian situation in the Kurdistan Region, the situation of Ezidi and Christian women and girls and gender equality in Region.

Meeting between the KRG PM Nechirvan Barzani and Malala Yousafzai.
Meeting between the KRG PM Nechirvan Barzani and Malala Yousafzai.

Malala's speech at the girls empowerment event organized by Global Shapers Erbil Hub in Erbil.

 

Editing by Ava Homa