Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl shot in the head by the Taliban, has announced plans for a football match between the UAE and Pakistan to promote peace.
The 15-year-old launched the initiative alongside British-born Pakistani footballer Kashif Siddiqi, 27, in aid of the Malala Fund, a charity set up to fund girls'' education in Pakistan.
The match will take place in Dubai on World Peace Day, September 21.
“Thank you for bringing awareness and support of education and equality for girls, through the power of sport, on such a significant day,” Malala said in a video message for the ongoing Peace and Sport Dubai Forum 2013 in Dubai this week.
Siddiqi made the official announcement at the forum, which is running under the theme of ''Building sustainable peace through sport. Together'' and has brought together decision-makers from the world of politics, sport and the private sector.
He said the football match will be dedicated to Malala and her fund, which was set up to offer a safe place for girls to study as well as financial support for their families in her hometown of Swat Valley, Pakistan.
Malala, the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize nominee, returned to school in Birmingham last month.
She had been shot in the head by the Taliban in October last year in retribution for her advocacy for girls'' education.
Malala had then been airlifted to the UK and following her recovery from a marathon surgery, she has signed a book deal worth about 3 million pounds to pen her memoirs.
The book, titled ''I am Malala'', is scheduled for publication later this year.
The 15-year-old launched the initiative alongside British-born Pakistani footballer Kashif Siddiqi, 27, in aid of the Malala Fund, a charity set up to fund girls'' education in Pakistan.
The match will take place in Dubai on World Peace Day, September 21.
“Thank you for bringing awareness and support of education and equality for girls, through the power of sport, on such a significant day,” Malala said in a video message for the ongoing Peace and Sport Dubai Forum 2013 in Dubai this week.
Siddiqi made the official announcement at the forum, which is running under the theme of ''Building sustainable peace through sport. Together'' and has brought together decision-makers from the world of politics, sport and the private sector.
He said the football match will be dedicated to Malala and her fund, which was set up to offer a safe place for girls to study as well as financial support for their families in her hometown of Swat Valley, Pakistan.
Malala, the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize nominee, returned to school in Birmingham last month.
She had been shot in the head by the Taliban in October last year in retribution for her advocacy for girls'' education.
Malala had then been airlifted to the UK and following her recovery from a marathon surgery, she has signed a book deal worth about 3 million pounds to pen her memoirs.
The book, titled ''I am Malala'', is scheduled for publication later this year.
