I’m Speaking on Behalf of Refugee Girls—#YesAllGirls
This is the story I will tell when I meet with world leaders in New York
I am a student, a Syrian refugee and a Malala Fund campaigner. Only a short time ago, in November last year, my family and I moved to Newcastle in the north of England. Before then, we lived for three years in refugee camps in Jordan after fleeing our home in Syria.
Since arriving in the UK, I have been going to school and working hard on learning English. It is very different here, so it is taking time for me and my family to get used to it but we are making friends and feeling a bit more settled. I try to keep in touch with my friends back in Azraq and Za’atari, but the internet connection is not good and sometimes they don’t have credits, so it is hard to reach them.
Even though I no longer live in a refugee camp, I want to keep speaking out to help all refugee children get an education — especially girls. I made a promise that I would not stop fighting, especially for my refugee sisters.
Earlier this year, in February, I was invited with Malala to speak at the Supporting Syria Conference in London. It is great working with Malala — she is a wonderful person and I feel strong when I stand with her.
We wanted to get across the message that Syria’s refugee and displaced children have hopes and dreams like all children, and we have the right to education. We are not lost! It was good to hear many government leaders promise to get all the refugee children back in school. I hope they will keep their promises.
When I started school in Newcastle, it was a bit hard to understand everything at first, but people welcomed me and my brothers and sister and helped us find our way. There are students from many countries at my school and we are getting used to the English education system and the way of teaching.
This year, I start my A levels. I hope to do well in my studies so that I can go on to university. That is the most important thing for me because if I have a good education, I know I can do anything.
I used to say that to the girls in the camps — especially the ones who were thinking about getting married. Some families think that marriage is the best protection for girls. But I would tell them that education protects girls; it can save their lives. For refugee children, education gives hope and possibility. I saw many refugees lose hope when they arrived in the camps and could not see the point of sending their children to school. I think that if you have education, you have hope — you can’t give up.
I am going to New York to deliver a message to world leaders meeting at the United Nations.
I am looking forward to seeing New York but I don’t know what to expect. People tell me it is very busy and the buildings are tall! I hope to see some of the famous places but I will mainly be there to talk to as many people as I can about the importance of education for all refugee children — especially girls.
Through the Malala Fund, I have the chance to meet girls from many places — Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia — who are also fighting for the right to go to school. I feel stronger when we work together and I hope people will listen.
I especially hope that world leaders will understand that there are millions of girls who face big barriers to education — especially girls who are displaced or who are refugees.
Many of them face poverty or early marriage. Sometimes there are no schools for them to go to or their schools have been destroyed. Sometimes parents think that their education is not important, simply because they are girls.
For me, education is hope. Education is the way for my refugee sisters and brothers around the world to rebuild our lives and our countries. With good quality education, we can do anything.
I think #YesAllGirls should have the right to 12 years of quality education. It is our right to be safe at school and to have the same opportunities as our brothers.
Support Muzoon as she prepares to address world leaders in New York. Share your #YesAllGirls photo on Twitter on Instagram with why you believe all girls deserve an education.
