Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Sells Out Arlington Theater

Cheers and happy tears could be heard from Santa Barbara’s Arlington Theater Saturday as social justice activist, Malala Yousafzai, shared her story of struggle, advocacy and triumph.

Lines were wrapped around the corner as crowds eagerly waited to see the 17-year-old, championed for her campaign that promotes women’s education.

After miraculously surviving a Taliban gunshot to the head almost three years ago in her hometown of Swat Valley, Pakistan, with the help of her supportive parents, Malala has taken her dream to the international level.

As the youngest person ever to win a Nobel Peace Prize, the poised and humble Malala regularly meets with world leaders, encouraging them to invest more time, money and resources in education—”unless it falls on a school day” she chuckled.

“One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world,” has become one of her signature catch phrases.

Listing Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. as her idols, Malala is sure to become another member of their league, but for now is focused on completing school and attending college—hopefully at Oxford University.

With outreach as the foundation of her campaign, UCTV streamed her speech to two satellite venues including UCSB’s Campbell Hall and the New Victoria Theater.

“Culture is constructed and it is our duty to change it when they begin to violate our basic human rights,” Malala added in her closing remarks.

Her story can be found through her autobiography, I am Malala, and a film coming out this fall titled He Named Me Malala. Watch the trailer here.