As an activist, sixteen year old Malala Yousafzai has faced difficult challenges and tremendous adversity in her fight to educate young girls. Fortunately, she has been deeply praised and rewarded for her efforts.
According to CNN, the European Parliament awarded Malala the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on this date, appropriately enough known worldwide as Children's Day, in Strasbourg, France in recognition of her campaign for women's rights, a crusade she fought even after surviving an assassination attempt from Taliban gunmen a year ago and from which she still suffers nerve damage. Furthermore, she humbly accepted the award and used the platform to call attention to millions of disadvantaged, especially girls in her homeland, who cannot go to school.
BBC reports that the prize of $65,000 (or 50,000 euro), is highly regarded as the highest human rights award that can be given to anyone. In addition, Malala declared in her acceptance speech the hope that the European Parliament will look beyond its own borders and help other countries that are suffering and dedicated her prize to "the unsung heroes of Pakistan".