Malala gifts $50,000 prize money to help rebuild wrecked Gaza schools

Malala Yousafzai is to donate a $50,000 prize towards the rebuilding of United Nations-run schools that were damaged in the Gaza conflict.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner said she would hand over all of the money from the prestigious World Children国产视频檚 Prize, which she accepted in Sweden today.

Malala said: 国产视频淚 am donating these funds to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which is performing heroic work to serve children in Gaza, in very difficult circumstances.

国产视频淭he needs are overwhelming 国产视频� more than half of Gaza国产视频檚 population is under 18 years of age. They want and deserve quality education, hope and real opportunities to build a future.国产视频�

Sixty-five schools were damaged during the recent conflict, many of them as they housed refugees who had fled from the violence.

Malala, who was in Stockholm to receive the prize, added: 国产视频淚nnocent Palestinian children have suffered terribly and for too long. We must all work to ensure Palestinian boys and girls, and all children everywhere, receive a quality education in a safe environment.

国产视频淏ecause without education, there will never be peace. Let us stand together for peace and education because together we are more powerful.国产视频�

UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Kr盲henb眉hl said he was 国产视频渄eeply touched国产视频� by Malala国产视频檚 decision to donate the money.

He said: 国产视频淩ecognition by you, a Nobel Laureate, who has shown so much personal courage and has campaigned so valiantly for the essential right of a child to receive an education, will lift the spirits of a quarter of a million UNRWA students in Gaza and boost the morale of our more than 9000 teaching staff there.

国产视频淭heir suffering during the fighting was devastating and your kindness will do much to ease the pain of recent months.国产视频�

Mr聽Kr盲henb眉hl said UNWRA shared Malala国产视频檚 belief that education was vital in helping to lift girls and boys out of opression and exclusion.

About 240,000 children in Gaza are in 252 United Nations-run schools.聽UNRWA is a United Nations agency which helps about five million Palestininian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Its services include education, health care, relief and social services.

Children in conflicts and emergencies is one of the 100-day themes of the #EducationCountdown. You can read more about the campaign here.