Malala Yousafzai to Accept WHYY's Lifelong Learning Award

The Pakistani activist for female education will come to Philadelphia to accept the award on April 14.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 9:47pm

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WHYY will honor Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani activist for female education, with its annual Lifelong Learning Award. Yousafzai, who was shot by the Taliban as a teenager for speaking out about allowing girls to attend school, will come to Philadelphia to accept the award on April 14.

Why it matters

Yousafzai's courage and commitment to education have inspired millions around the world, and her leadership aligns directly with WHYY's values around access to learning and civic responsibility.

The details

Yousafzai was just 15 years old when she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman for being outspoken about girls' education in Pakistan. She survived the attack and has since become a Nobel Peace Prize winner and a college graduate, earning her degree in philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University in 2020. Yousafzai has also launched the Malala Fund to support female education worldwide, and last year she published a memoir titled 'Finding My Way'.

  • Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban in 2013 when she was 15 years old.
  • Yousafzai graduated from Oxford University in 2020.
  • Yousafzai published her memoir 'Finding My Way' last year.
  • Yousafzai will accept WHYY's Lifelong Learning Award on April 14, 2026.

The players

Malala Yousafzai

A Pakistani activist for female education who was shot by the Taliban as a teenager for speaking out, and has since become a Nobel Peace Prize winner, college graduate, and author.

WHYY

A public media organization that is honoring Yousafzai with its annual Lifelong Learning Award.

Bill Marrazzo

The president and CEO of WHYY, who praised Yousafzai's courage and commitment to education.

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What they’re saying

“Malala Yousafzai's courage and commitment to education have inspired millions and set a global standard for advocacy in the face of adversity.”

— Bill Marrazzo, President and CEO of WHYY (WHYY)

“I was reliving all the missed years of my childhood because of the activism that I had to take from such a young age.”

— Malala Yousafzai (WHYY's 'Fresh Air')

What’s next

Yousafzai will come to Philadelphia to accept the Lifelong Learning Award from WHYY on April 14, 2026.

The takeaway

Malala Yousafzai's inspiring story of overcoming adversity and her tireless advocacy for girls' education have made her a global icon, and WHYY's recognition of her achievements with this award underscores the importance of her work and its alignment with the organization's values.