Speaker 7.30pm

Two students from Atlantic College visited the the club to speak about the day in 2012 when they were attacked on a school bus with their friend Malala Yousafzai.  The speakers Shazia Riaz aged 16 and Kainat Riaz 17 lived in the Swat Valley of northern Pakistan close to the Afghanistan border.  On 9 October 2012 they were  returning home with other girls in a school bus have earlier taken some examinations.  The bus was stopped and boarded by an armed man who asked one of the girls which was  Malala. The man then approached Malala and shot her at close range in the face.  The two Rotary visitors were sitting either side of her and were caught in the crossfire.  Shazia was shot in the shoulder and Kainat on the upper arm.  The Taliban, who are opposed to females receiving an education, later claimed responsibility for the outrage.  Malala had previously spoken out in favour of female education.  All three girls received immediate hospital treatment with Malala being flown to Britain for extensive facial reconstruction.  Also, a few months ago Malala became the youngest ever recipient  of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Thanks to the intervention of Gordon Brown MP and the generosity of Atlantic College the girls Shazia and Kainat were offered places at the college in St Donats Castle.  They are now in the first year of a two year course.  On arrival both girls had to learn to speak and write English which they have now successfully achieved to the extent of being able to give an illustrated talk to Rotary.  They gave much praise to the aims of Atlantic College which brings young people together from around the world to build lasting friendships by encouraging education and peaceful collaboration.  The girls had the support of their families and had also been able to make a home visit since beginning their course at the college.  After Atlantic College both want to go on to university to study medicine before returning to Pakistan to help others.

After the visitors had answered numerous questions they were thanked by President, Mrs Mary Noyes, for their extraordinary story.  She said that if it had been the aim of the terrorists to stop these girls studying then it had been a dramatic failure.  Mrs Noyes wished them every success for the future and also thanked Rtn. Paul Motte, the Bursar of Atlantic College, for bringing the visitors along and helping with the visual side of the presentation.