A group of my seventh and eighth grade intermediate ESL students felt shocked and outraged after reading an article about the Taliban’s attack on 14-year-old award-winning activist, writer, and student Malala Yousafzai. They decided to write her letters in order to wish her a speedy recovery and to ask questions and express their feelings.
Quddus’s Letter to Malala: “I felt sorrow, I was weeping for your recovery.”
Diligence’s Letter to Malala: Human Rights
Muslim student Nadira felt compelled to explain the differences between her understandings of Islam and the images conveyed by the Taliban via the media.
- page 2 of Nadira’s letter
Angely’s Letter, page 1
Angely’s Letter, page 2: asking questions about regret
Mariah’s Letter to Malala: I think the Taliban should suffer.
Angel’s Letter: “You are like the second governor.”
Literacy Changes Everything! 
Hi,
I love the letters they wrote! I’m trying to do something like this in my class, too. Did you actually send them to Malala? I can’t find an address!
Would love any insight
Ms Davidson
cdavi049@uottawa.ca
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Hi Ms. Davidson: It was a wonderful experience to learn about Malala and write letters. We sent the letters to the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C. I do not know if or when they will be delivered to Malala, but I figured that the embassy would be interested in promoting positive American and Pakistani communication. I hope that your class decides to write letters! If you photograph or scan them, I would be happy to post them on this site.
Best,
Jennifer Dines
Malala Yousafzai
c/o Embassy of Pakistan
3517 International Court NW
Washington, DC 20008
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So helpful! Thank you very much!
I’ll try to remember to follow up here 🙂
We start the letters this Friday.
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You’re welcome!
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Hi, Jennifer I’m a production coordinator currently working on the production of a special TV programme of Malala Yousufzai for a Japanese TV and researching how her bravery has impacted on some people and their actions.
I saw the letters and videos by your students and thought they are wonderful and I would like to know more how you discuss Malala’s story with your students within the class / school.
My email address is yoshiko.researchuk@gmail.com
Is it possible to contact you via email or phone?
Thank you very much for your kind attention.
Yoshiko Uno-Flukes
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Hi Yoshiko: Thank you for writing to me. I have just e-mailed you with information about arranging a phone appointment. I would be honored to assist you with your production. Please comment back here if for any reason you do not see the email within the next few minutes.
Best, Jennifer
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I’ve got your email and replied. Thank you very much! Yoshiko
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I am so glad I found this page. I am a veteran teacher, but am teaching ELL’s for the first time, combined with some very low readers. Do you (or does anyone else) happen to know of a lower-lexile version of Malala’s story that I could share with them as background for her speech? Thank you. It’s such an important story and topic.
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Hello! Thank you for reading my site. I am traveling right now,so my only Internet is via phone, which is not a great way to research. I would be happy to create a lower Lexile version when I arrive home on Thursday. I can also post about adapting readings for ELLs. In my opinion, ELLs are the best, along with language-based LD students because they are very appreciative of their teachers. I will comment here once I have created the new post. 🙂 I agree with you that Malala’s story is so important as it shows the strength of a young woman determined to get her education. She is incredible! 🙂
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Hello again, Amethyst! As promised, I created a post about adapting text with my adapted Malala article included. I hope you will find this resource and my post useful. Best, Jennifer
https://literacychange.org/2013/08/15/adapting-text-for-ells-taliban-shot-teenage-girl-for-fighting-for-girls-rights/
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My daughter just finished a book on Malala. She wrote a letter and I tried extensively to find a place where she can write / post a letter she has written. I came across your work here so I am going to get her to type her letter here and hopefully she can see it posted here or elsewhere 🙂
thanks a lot
Siddiqa Sadiq ( siddiqa.sadiq@gmail.com )
Dear Malala,
my name is Ayesha.Im 8 years old.I live in Canada I’m Pakistani.What I loved in your book is that you have confidence in yourself to beat the Taliban.And what I did not like is that the Taliban tried to kill you.Oh and by the way I’m also Pashtun.And I live in Chateauguay.I hope that I get to meet you one day.When I grow up I want to be a doctor.Please write back to me.
Love Ayesha Rehman.
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Hi Siddiqa and Ayesha: How Sweet! Happy to publish here in the comments!
Best, Jennifer
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Thank you so much for posting the address for Ms. Yousafzi here in the comments that your students sent the letters to Malala. I just had one of my Chinese students write her a letter after reading her autobiography, and she was having trouble finding a mailing address. We are going to try sending it to her there and hope it works! I love that we both teach ELS students and have this letter writing project to help them get excited about reading and interacting with authors. God bless you and your work!
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Hi Marianna: I believe that I send the letters to the Embassy of Pakistan in DC: https://embassyofpakistanusa.org/contact-us/
Good luck! I’m sure she will enjoy your students’ letters! 🙂
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