Inspired by Malala's courage

By Deirdre Mullan

The Mercy Schools community in the Philadelphia area was already excited when it was announced that Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai would receive the 2014 Liberty Medal at the National Constitution Center this month. So imagine the intensity of our feelings now that she has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her continued demonstration of courage and resilience in the face of adversity and for serving as a powerful voice for those who have been denied their basic human rights.

Our students, whether in Southeastern Pennsylvania, throughout the United States, or in Ireland, identify with Malala, a tireless advocate for the rights of all young people to get an education. That's because she's one of them. But it's also because of their involvement in a project that we began in 2005, the Mercy Girl Effect.

Since the start of the project, our students and teachers have been raising money to build schools and provide scholarships for girls in Sudan, Zambia, South Africa, Kenya, and Cambodia.

The moment they heard of the attack by the Taliban on a then-unknown young school girl named Malala Yousafzai on Oct. 9, 2012, our students were outraged. But they were smart enough to know that being angry or compassionate isn't enough. To make a difference in the world, you must act. And act they did. They adopted Malala as their role model, knowing that when there is violence against one of us, the rest of us have a responsibility to say and do something.

Indeed, they have been acting ever since, with many of them signing the Malala pledge to make a difference in our world in the days leading up to her appearance at the United Nations in October of last year. On the International Day of the Girl, Malala told a packed General Assembly:

"Today is not my day. Today is the day of every woman, every boy, every girl, who have raised their voice for their rights. So here I stand . . . one girl among many . . . They thought they would silence me. But they failed. Out of silence came thousands of voices."

One such voice was that of Annie Staub, a Philadelphia native and then a student at Gwynedd Mercy Academy. She responded to Malala's challenge to wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty, and terrorism and to pick up our books and pens. Annie's response was used at the International Day of the Girls-Child held at UNICEF. She wrote:

One Voice did not quiver, yet prevailed against its biggest demon.

One voice was silenced, yet spoke for millions.

One voice spoke for the voiceless, for the persecuted, the terrorized.

One voice fought for the rights of knowledge and equality.

One voice was saved by the Almighty God in order for others to be heard.

One voice started a movement.

A movement proved that opposition to injustices produces liberty.

One voice rippled through the minds of millions of women.

One voice echoed around the world.

One voice prevailed in the name of all women.

With one voice, a hero was heard.

This voice, your voice, has forever changed us.

As the city of Philadelphia gathers on Oct. 21 to honor Malala Yousafzai, and the world honors her with a Nobel Peace Prize, the Mercy Schools community will keep her and Annie's words in their hearts.