In the medieval castle of
Gripsholm, about 70 km south of Stockholm in Sweden, Malala Yousafzai received
the World's Children's Prize (WCP) on Wednesday (October 29).
It's a double honor for Malala, who earlier this month became the world's youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Nelson Mandela is the only person to receive both awards, but they were twelve years apart.
Nobody has ever received both awards in the same year.
"I'm feeling really happy that this time children have selected a child to
win this prize. It's the first time, so it's amazing that now children are
believing that children need to take a step and go forward into and fight for
their rights. It's no more the time when we should wait for someone else come
and speak for us, or no more the time that we should ask other people to fight for
our rights," 17 year old Malala said during a news conference before the
official awards ceremony.
Almost 2 million school children voted in the 2014 World's Children's Prize,
which is the world's largest annual rights-based education program and only open
to children to vote.
Malala said the $50,000 prize money will be donated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees to rebuild schools in Gaza.
"I think it will definitely help children to continue their education, to get quality education and it will help them to continue their lives and to know that people are supporting them, they are not alone. I am happy that this funding will help the rebuilding of 65 schools in Gaza," she said.
Malala was presented her award by Queen Silvia of Sweden.
She added that the global community needs to stand together to bring change.
"So lets stand up together, lets fight for our rights and let's make sure that every child gets quality education. And I will repeat that one book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world," she said.
John Wood, who gave up his job as a Microsoft manager to focus on his Room to Read organisation, and Indira Ranamagar from Nepal who led a 20-year campaign for education rights for the children of convicts were announced as honourary laureates.
It's a double honor for Malala, who earlier this month became the world's youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Nelson Mandela is the only person to receive both awards, but they were twelve years apart.
Nobody has ever received both awards in the same year.
"I'm feeling really happy that this time children have selected a child to
win this prize. It's the first time, so it's amazing that now children are
believing that children need to take a step and go forward into and fight for
their rights. It's no more the time when we should wait for someone else come
and speak for us, or no more the time that we should ask other people to fight for
our rights," 17 year old Malala said during a news conference before the
official awards ceremony.
Almost 2 million school children voted in the 2014 World's Children's Prize,
which is the world's largest annual rights-based education program and only open
to children to vote.Malala said the $50,000 prize money will be donated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees to rebuild schools in Gaza.
"I think it will definitely help children to continue their education, to get quality education and it will help them to continue their lives and to know that people are supporting them, they are not alone. I am happy that this funding will help the rebuilding of 65 schools in Gaza," she said.
Malala was presented her award by Queen Silvia of Sweden.
She added that the global community needs to stand together to bring change.
"So lets stand up together, lets fight for our rights and let's make sure that every child gets quality education. And I will repeat that one book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world," she said.
John Wood, who gave up his job as a Microsoft manager to focus on his Room to Read organisation, and Indira Ranamagar from Nepal who led a 20-year campaign for education rights for the children of convicts were announced as honourary laureates.
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