My Reflections on I Am Malala: A Resource Guide for Educators

Reflections from a Pakistani Scholar

I am with authors and guest speakers at GWI at the George Washington University on Nov 13, 2014, 

I Am Malala: A Resource Guide for Educators is a unique endeavor to enlighten students and academics, providing a well-deserved space to the emerging struggle for life, peace, and education around the world. It is a privilege and honor to have worked with my brother in peace, Ziauddin Yousafzai, as well as the faculty of the Global Women's Institute at the George Washington University, to provide my input on a broad range of issues covered by the resource guide.

Education has the power to transform lives, communities, and societies. I once asked Malala why she had chosen education as her single-point agenda. Her clear and simple response was that education offers health and hope, options and opportunities.

Malala's journey of peace through education and nonviolent resistance is shaping a new discourse from the United Nations, through refugee camps in Jordan, on to villages in Kenya, and into schools in the Swat Valley, sharing the message of struggle and hope. This is happening because Malala chose peace and forgiveness over the violence that has brought prolonged suffering and misery to the lives of those in her own Pashtun community in Pakistan and Afghanistan and in many countries around the world.  

Before 9/11, the idyllic Swat Valley, the land of Malala, was calm. Fruit orchards and vegetable gardens were in abundance. People were renowned for their folk music and storytelling; schools were in almost every village and town; and people lived in peace, resolving their disputes nonviolently through Jirga and Sulha. Suddenly armed militancy appeared on the scene, destroying peace, prosperity, and Pashtunwali, the way of life of Pashtun people. Traditions faded quickly into the past, as the deadly conflict and trauma of war scarred a generation of children and of women. 

Swat has fresh water, green forests, precious gemstones, and small cottage industries with the potential to export hydropower, water, fresh and dried fruits, vegetables, and gems. Pashtuns are dreamers, innovative and creative. Women make fine crafts, and men produce stirring poetry and art. They have the capacity to resolve their disputes and conflicts creatively through the long-standing institutions of Jirga and Sulha. Once interference in their social, cultural, and political affairs has ended, Pashtuns will expel extremism from their land. 

Malala's struggle for peace and education against the worst form of violence in the Swat Valley almost cost Malala her own life. But instead she has become a torchbearer for peaceful and active resistance. Malala provides continuity for building stable societies, as embodied by those heroes of nonviolence Rumi, Bacha Khan, Gandhi, Mandela, King, and Mother Teresa. With this shining lineage we are inspired to contribute to a generation of young people—women and men—who are well-educated in many fields and grounded in the knowledge of processes that create a peaceful society.

This guide will set a foundation to explore the lives and struggle of Pashtun people and address the root causes of war in Malala's land. I am confident that students and academics will create forums, seminars, conferences, and research centers for dialogue to defeat extremism and bring peace to the people of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and our shared world. The Guide is available at Global Women's Institute at the George Washington University.

Fernanda Bianchi, Director of Programs and Development, The Global Women’s Institute (GWI), the George Washington University (GWU), University Official,  Mary Elsberg, Director of the GWI, the GWU, Jahan Zeb, Ziauddin Yousafzai, Chair of the Malala Fund,  Cathy Russell, US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues ,  Ahmad Shah, Precedent of the Global Peace Council Pakistan, and Chelsea Ullman, Policy Associate,  of the GWI, the GWU,at the  I Am Malala Resource Guide for Educators Launch  

Jahab Zeb
Director of the Global Peace Council Canada
The Centre for Peace Advancement at Conrad Grebel University College, affiliated with the University of Waterloo, Canada

Daughters for Life fundraising gala - Toronto

Thanks to Fred Martin Director of Development at Conrad Grebel University College  (CGUC) at University of Weterloo  and a very fine friend took this photo  yesterday with  Prof. Lowell Ewert, Director of  Peace and Conflict Studies program of CGUC and Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish founder of the Daughters for Life Canada and who is also Nobel Peace Prize nominee.

Jeanette and Lowell 

Dr. Abuelaish's three daughters, Bessan, 21, Mayar, 15, and Aya, 13 were killed by Israrel's tanks on January 15, 2009 in their home.   "That heartbreaking tragedy came minutes before Dr. Abuelaish spoke live on an Israeli TV program. His anguished cries for help captured hearts and headlines in Israel and around the world. It was Abuelaish’s response to the loss of his daughters that won him humanitarian awards around the world. Instead of seeking revenge or sinking into despair and hatred, Dr. Abuelaish has called for the people of the Middle East to stop the bloodshed and start talking to each other. The Daughters for Life Foundation was established in memory of Bessan, Mayar and Aya and seeks to honour their love of life and learning and their hopes and dreams for an educated future.

 Dalala at the right (photo by the star -Toronto)

Dr. Abuelaish founded the Daughters for Life Foundation for empowering girls and young women through education to develop strong voices for the betterment of life throughout the Middle East. Last night (May 28, 2914), the Foundation raised a handsome money for girls education by selling over 400 tickets @$300 each along with many sponsorships and auctions. There were fine reflections from Dr. Abuelaish, Shatha and  Dalala the two daughters of   Dr. Abuelaish.  

Dr. Abuelaish told me  that he wants to keep his education and scholarship program for the girls and women of Middle East. He also keeps it apolitical. Dr. Abuelaish also told me that his daughters  Dalal and Shatha are highly impressed with the work and resilience of Malala and they both love Malala.

Here are  remarks by the Governor General of Canada, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General on while receiving his Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law from the University of King’s College Halifax, Nova Scotia, Thursday, May 15, 2014.

[There is power in education, and one of my fellow honorary recipients today gives us perhaps one of the most affected interpretations of this. I speak, of course, of Malala Yousafzai. I hope the other recipients on the stage will forgive me for focusing on Malala, but her story is unique and reflects how important education is for all societies.

By now, we all know something of her story. This young woman selflessly risked her life to speak out about the importance of education, specifically for girls. For those of us here, it is difficult to imagine what it would be like to have our freedom of education taken away. But for Malala, this was a fact of life, and she was determined to change it. She has reminded us that education is an inalienable right, one worth every risk.

At her address to the United Nations last year, Malala said: “…Let us pick up our books and pens. They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world. Education is the only solution.”

There is a lot we can learn from this young woman. And incidentally, the reason she is not physically here with us today is because she did not want to disturb her studies. I think that speaks volumes about her dedication to learning.

I am also delighted that King’s College will be launching the Malala Yousafzai Canada Scholarship. To give young women in developing nations an opportunity they would not normally receive, that is the essence of Malala’s message—and Canada’s message as well. (http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=15622)]

I hope there will be opportunity that Dalala, Shahta and Malala meet for the shared cause when Malala comes to Canada  for receiving her honourary Canadian Citizenship in Fall 2014. 

Malala has become  the sixth international figure to receive honorary Canadian citizenship. The honour  was previously bestowed on Nelson Mandela, Raoul Wallenberg, the Dalai Lama, Aung San Suu Kyi and the Aga Khan.

Ziauddin Yousafzai Keynote Speech at Pegasus Conference Toronto

Ziauddin Yousafzai Keynote Speech at Pegasus Conference   - May 3, 2014

I had the honour to introduce  Ziauddin Yousafzai at Pegasus Conference - an international  on Peace, Global Health and Sustainability in Toronto, Canada to the audience. The conference was aimed at to find the way forward on issues such as: peace through health, eco-health, advocacy and turning marginalized communities into healthy ones. The conference was attended by physicians, doctors, medical students, academics, policy makers  and peace- builders.

Ziauddin was keynote speaker at the conference. He spoke on wide ranging issues such as: militancy, geo-political interventions, systemic atrocities, social issues, poverty, and our peoples resilience, contributions to peace, longing for education, society reform and building healthy society along side vulnerabilities. 

Ziauddin received a standing ovation and prolonged applause. Zaiuddin finished his speech with Faiz's poem " ...Raj Karay Gee KhalQ -e - Khuda" and people will be the owner of their destiny.

Many people commented that Ziauddin educated them about AfPak and Pashtuns in a simple and clear way

Video will be shared in few days.

Ziauddin with Janet Hatcher Roberts -Co Director WHO Collaborating Centre
Knowledge Translation, Technology Assessment for Health Equity
Centre for Global Health, University of Ottawa

Debate or Dialogue ?

[A modified versions of one of my blog post on "Debate or Dialogue" that I wrote  in August 2013]

We are taking rigid and even stubborn positions to defend our  'opinions and/or assumptions' re our point of view on culture, politics, or simply, what to eat/drink/wear. We consider our opinions the ultimate 'truth'.  Sometimes, we associate our own 'identities' with our 'opinions' and if they are  challenged, we feel 'inferior, embarrassed and ashamed'  and go into endless circles of debates to defeat our opponent.

I remember most of our "hardcore" nationalist friends were joining hands countering the arguments made by one of the PTI advocates. The style was debating issues.  This PTI man was mostly flawed though but he had his arguments. Then he would go away or expelled by the admin. [this was happening at Hujra FB forum]. But when he was away, then Hujra members were unable to have had a debate or meaningful and focused dialogue among themselves.

I think, we mobilize our friends to find counter arguments to create a win-lose situation. We try to win and feel our opponent 'defeated' and 'stupid'. And the discussion ends with purposeless self-joy and entrancement or shamefulness for our opponents or the vice-versa.

I don't think that discourse, discussion and debate are not useful  'a la' situations. However, I wish we come out of the debating mode and initiate a purposeful focused 'dialogue' among ourselves to reach a shared meaning of oneness  and unity that we as a group and nation needs the most.

A place in Hamilton for Mandela

• Article rank 
• 23 Dec 2013
• The Hamilton Spectator
• JAHAN ZEB | A15

A place in Hamilton for Mandela

It is true that Nelson Mandela is the son of Africa. The African community of Hamilton proudly shared with other Hamiltonians the opportunity to celebrate Mandela’s life on a cold and stormy Sunday Dec. 15.

Mandela was a universal leader who belongs to not only Africa but the entire world, irrespective of colour, religion, sect, race or class. The celebration was warm. There were plenty of tears, joy, dances, singing and drumming. The participation in the event was so broad — it included people from every continent — that one could believe right away he belonged to the entire world.

Mandela introduced our world to Ubuntu — an African way of life of humanism that reaches across inter and intra community divisions, whether ethnic, racial, communal, political, religious or other. Ubuntu is in absolute contrast to our Western retributive justice system of punishment with a purpose of relationship and community building. Ubuntu is forgiveness and put perpetrators back into the community. Mandela brought South Africa into unity and we can learn from many of his lessons.

It is heartening that the entire world feels proud to live the legacy of Mandela. Ziauddin Yousafzai, father of the UN education ambassador, young Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan who was shot by the Taliban, told me Malala considers Mandela “her leader” and wants to follow in his footsteps to empower more than 600 million girls through education. This is the charisma of Mandela. We in Hamilton can also take in the message of Mandela’s life and struggle and transform conflicts among our peers, families, classrooms, and workplaces into relationships.

I have received tremendous support from many community leaders, faith groups, students, and civil society organizations to rename either King or Main street in the name of Mandela and declare Hamilton a Peace City. I am pleased that Mayor Bob Bratina, Hamilton Police Chief DeCair and mayoral candidate Brain McHattie have publicly endorsed the renaming idea.

The people of Hamilton can, I hope, make this a true peace city in Canada and the world; a city in which Mahatma Gandhi, the prophet of non-violence, is remembered and honoured with a statue beside City Hall. 

Jahan Zeb is co-ordinator with Gandhi Peace Festival, a project of McMaster University and Hamilton community. jahanzebca@gmail.com

Reflections

 Reflections

Oct 11 2013
Malala is challenging both the global North and the forces of dogma and  darkness at the same time. She says drones and the use of force are counterproductive. Her message is investment in children education. She strives for enlightenment, equality of men and women  and equity and fairness.

Oct 12 2013

Malala's message is very simple to Taliban and their apologist: Come to dialogue for the  sake of peace, education and prosperity.  How Malala's message be internalized by children and youth in conflict zones?

Reflections

Malala has shown SOFT image of Pashtuns to the world Nobel4Malala will make it more prophetic

Malala carries a torch for those who would banish the dark forces of violence & repression

liberty, & reason agnst dogma&darknesssub-consciousness. 

Hosted Ziauddin yesterday @McMasterU

I found Malala modest, thoughtful, original, caring and full of indigenous Pashtun wisdom during my meeting with her in New York City on Sunday Oct 6, 2013

We need to reconstruct our collective memory&narrative to encounter the lie of d forces of darkness

#Malala has become shining star of the global stars -

Prady mahshar day - prady ghobal day Halta Hum Za Maram -Dalta hum za Mraum [is part of #Malala Book]

My family & I had d honour meeting iconic leader of our times #Malala "cannot wait to finish #Malala Book" Says my little son

Pashtun culture, believing that it teaches patience, peace and religious tolerance

Perpetrators need to ask for forgiveness from #Pashtuns of #AfPak- A #TRC need to expose the pple of darkness

#Malala is a week away 2 win her well-deserved Noble Prize 2 save humanity,

#Malala father - Ziauddin is a prolific speaker. Appeals to hearts &

#Peshawar is bathed in its children blood Wake-up & defeat d forces of darkness

They NEVER wept,the men of my city- they do now in the cruel & unwise state of #Pakistan

Pashtun will NEVER forget the VIOLENCE brought by the people of darkness but CAN FORGIVE for sustained peace

Silence is the name of oppression!

Sta Pa Na RaTLo Za KhudayGo Ka KhaPa Yam - Kho De StoRo Ta De Der BeGa KaCha KRam -Abdullah Jan Maghmom (MarChaKay) @KhanBehroz @haikakar

Debate or Dialogue?

I think we are taking rigid and even stubborn positions to defend our  'opinions and/or assumptions' re our point of view on culture, politics, or simply, what to eat/drink/ wear . We consider our opinions the ultimate 'truth' .   Sometimes, we associate our 'identities' with our 'opinions' and if they are  challenged, we feel 'inferior, embarrassed and ashamed'  and go into endless circles of debates. We mobilize our friends to find counter arguments to create a win-lose situation. We try to win and feel our opponent  'defeated' and 'stupid'. And the discussion ends with purposeless self-joy and entrancement or shamefulness for our opponents or the vice-versa.

I don't argue that discourse, discussion and debate are not useful  'a la' situations. I wish we come out of the debating mode and initiate a purposeful 'dialogue' among ourselves to reach a shared meaning of oneness  and unity.

Dase Wkhat ba Kala Rashi,

Che Zamung Jehaz ba Hum vee

...............................

Za Ba Khpal Jarnel Pase Yam

Pa Dushman ba Daao Kawal wee