For the attention of: Malala Yousafzai

Malala Press Enquiries

Malala Fund

October 2014

Dear Malala,

The Union of Students in Ireland and their member organisations wish to extend our most heartfelt congratulations to you on winning the Nobel Peace Prize.  We also commend you for being the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and for all you have achieved so far in your life.

We applaud you for your resilience in the face of such adversity. You have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for [your] struggle against the suppression of children and young people and the right of all children to education”. You campaign for girls to gain equal access to education and advocate for the priority of education over everything else. You remind us that education unlocks opportunity and potential. Education is the tool that combats gender and social inequalities, lifts people out of poverty and unites society.

We believe that education can bring about real change. As you have attested, education is a right and not a priviledge. We are calling for a renewed commitment to free education for all. We believe that education is the key to our future, to our economic recovery, and for the development of our society as a whole. The right to education is essential in building a better future for us all.

The Union of Students in Ireland, along with all our member organisations and affiliates, will continue our fight for free education, accessible to all and deniable to no one. We want you to know that we stand in solidarity with you in your campaign for education for all.

Yours sincerely,

Laura Harmon,
President, The Union of Students in Ireland