Angelina Jolie has written a blog post for The Daily Beast! You know why? Because she and Tina Brown are tight. I know, it’s kind of a strange friendship, but it sort of works too. Angelina and Tina have come together to launch “a Woman of Impact Award for Girls’ Education to provide funds to women and girls fighting for girls’ education in Pakistan and Afghanistan.” They’re doing it through the Women in the World Foundation, a foundation they’re both involved with (they appeared together at a foundation event earlier this year). All of the money raised through the partnership will go towards girls’ education in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Angelina is donating the first $50,000 (donated from Angelina’s Education Partnership for Children of Conflict). You can donate to the cause here.

Why this topical and somewhat controversial (“controversial” if you’re the Taliban) subject of education for girls? Because Angelina is getting involved with the story of Malala Yousafzai, the 14-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen as she was returning home on the school bus. She’s still alive – she’s receiving treatment in the UK right now. Malala has been a vocal proponent of girls’ education since she was 11, and you can read more about her extraordinary and revolutionary life here. Here’s Angelina’s Daily Beast blog post (titled “We Are All Malala”):

On Wednesday morning, as we readied the kids for school amidst a few of the usual complaints about not wanting to go, I saw a headline on the cover of The New York Times: Taliban Gun Down a Girl Who Spoke Up for Rights. The Taliban claimed that 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai “ignored their warnings, and she left them no choice.” They approached her school bus, asking for her by name, and shot her in the head for promoting girls’ education.
After reading the article, I felt compelled to share Malala’s story with my children. It was difficult for them to comprehend a world where men would try to kill a child whose only “crime” was the desire that she and others like her be allowed to go to school.

Malala’s story stayed with them throughout the day, and that night they were full of questions. We learned about Malala together, watching her interviews and reading her diaries. Malala was just 11 years old when she began blogging for the BBC. She wrote of life under the Taliban, of trading in her school uniform for colorless plain clothes, of hiding books under her shawl, and eventually having to stop going to school entirely.

Our 8-year-old suggested that the world build a statue for Malala, and fittingly create a reading nook near it. Our 6-year-old asked the practical question of whether Malala had any pets, and if so, who would take care of them? She also asked about Malala’s parents and if they were crying. We decided that they were, but not only for their daughter, also for children around the world denied this basic human right. Like Malala, her parents are icons of bravery and strength. Malala’s father, also a long time champion for girls’ education, is a school principal, teacher, and poet.

The following morning, the news showed pictures of children across Pakistan holding up Malala’s picture at vigils and demonstrations, and praying in schools. My son worried that girls were going to be shot for standing up for Malala. I told him that they were aware of the danger, but publicly supporting her reflects how much Malala means to them. Malala’s courage reminded all Pakistanis how important an education is. Her bravery inspired their own.

Still trying to understand, my children asked, “Why did those men think they needed to kill Malala?” I answered, “because an education is a powerful thing.”

The shots fired on Malala struck the heart of the nation, and as the Taliban refuse to back down, so too do the people of Pakistan. This violent and hateful act seems to have accomplished the opposite of its intent, as Pakistanis rally to embrace Malala’s principles and reject the tyranny of fear. A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban said “let this be a lesson.” Yes. Let this be a lesson—that an education is a basic human right, a right that Pakistan’s daughters will not be denied.

As girls across Pakistan stand up to say “I am Malala,” they do not stand alone. Mothers and teachers around the world are telling their children and students about Malala, and encouraging them to be a part of her movement for girls’ education. Across Pakistan, a national movement has emerged to rebuild the schools and recommit to educate all children, including girls. This terrible event marks the beginning of a necessary revolution in girls’ education.

Malala is proof that it only takes the voice of one brave person to inspire countless men, women, and children. In classrooms and at kitchen tables around the world, mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters are praying for Malala’s swift recovery and committing themselves to carry her torch. As the Nobel Committee meets to determine the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, I imagine brave Malala will be given serious consideration.

[From The Daily Beast]

I was moved by the stories of how the Jolie-Pitt kids reacted, but I have to give a “WTF?” to the last part. The Nobel committee has already determined the winner of the Peace Prize this year – the European Union was given the award for “its efforts to promote peace and democracy in Europe.” Unless Angelina means the 2013 Peace Prize? Or maybe she thinks that the Nobel Committee is going to take a mulligan after their EU announcement was met with near-universal derision? Which brings me to a weird point – I respect Angelina’s humanitarian work a great deal, and I admire the simple fact that she puts her money and her time where her mouth is. But Angelina’s efforts and her years of work often get hung up or overshadowed by nagging little details like “Does Angelina know that the Peace Prize was already announced?”

Anyway… poor Malala. She sounds like an extraordinary young woman.

Photos courtesy of WENN.