Apple is partnering with Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai’s organization to give more young women access to 12 years of free education in a safe environment.
“My dream is for every girl to choose her own future,” Yousafzai said in Apple’s press release. “Through both their innovations and philanthropy, Apple has helped educate and empower people around the world. I am grateful that Apple knows the value of investing in girls and is joining Malala Fund in the fight to ensure all girls can learn and lead without fear.”
The Malala Fund was founded in 2013 to address a major global problem: More than 130 million girls don’t attend school regularly. After surviving an assassination attempt by the Taliban for her work supporting girls’ rights to education, Yousafzai founded the organization with her father. The Malala Fund works with governments, philanthropic organizations, and the private sector to help ensure young women have access to 12 years of free, safe, quality education. Currently, it supports initiatives in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey through the Gulmakai Network.
Both Apple CEO Tim Cook andYousafzai, the world’s youngest ever Nobel Laureate, tweeted about the announcement. (Yousafzai only joined Twitter back in July.)
Apple is proud to support the courageous, visionary @Malala in advancing every girl’s right to 12 years of free, safe, quality education. Together we’re committing to expand the reach of @MalalaFund and provide secondary school opportunities to girls around the world. https://t.co/K9I64tJTWh
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) January 22, 2018
I am grateful to my friend Tim and @Apple for investing in our dream of a world where every girl can choose her own future. Together we will support the incredible girls we met in Beirut and millions like them around the world. https://t.co/nMm8aOuQVy
— Malala Yousafzai (@Malala) January 22, 2018
With Apple’s funding, the Malala Fund will be able to double the number of educational grants it’s able to give out. The organization will also be able to broaden its efforts to include India and Latin America. There, it will work to provide secondary education opportunities to 100,000 young women. Apple will also be helping the Malala Fund with its curriculum, research, and technology.
“We believe that education is a great equalizing force, and we share Malala Fund’s commitment to give every girl an opportunity to go to school,” Cook said of the new partnership.
H/T the Verge