Rio de Janeiro
On her second visit to Brazil, Malala Yousafzai shows interest in the country’s political discussions, including how Brazilians have used social media. For the 25yearold Pakistani activist and writer, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, digital education is the most important tool in combating misinformation on the internet.
In his view, both big technology companies and Internet users must be held accountable when it comes to using social networks. She herself, now a digital influencer, states that she sometimes feels uncomfortable on platforms. “I don’t read comments,” he says between laughs.
Malala was in the country for the first time in July 2018 when she accompanied the expansion of the activities of the Malala Fund Institute in Latin America. Now she returns to attend the Festival do Leitor, LER, in Rio de Janeiro this Monday (22), where she will speak to the public.
In an interview with Sheet This Sunday (21st) Malala shared her views on Brazil, her work and her next book which she is still writing.
How do you shape your digital influencer career and what strategies do you use to reach girls? Social media is a powerful platform to reach young people and I use my own profile to talk about girls education. There are also Malala Fund accounts that work to defend and engage in their rights to education. Above all, they are the ones who must lead. Because when we talk about their problems, we have to listen to them.
The institute has a program for girls and a newsletter called “Assembly” where young people from more than 100 countries have shared their stories. They talk about climate change, reproductive health and safety in schools. They not only share their problems, but also how they themselves become agents of change.
Why the internet and not the UNESCO headquarters? Both is important. All organizations are present on social media because they have recognized that these platforms have enormous reach.
Activists need to use the media to raise awareness and engage people in important discussions. The world faces many challenges, from climate change to poverty to the more than 130 million girls who are out of school. We can use the internet to mobilize young people and organizations like Unesco.
The Brazilian authorities are discussing a new law against fake news. [o PL das Fake News]. Do you think big tech companies should be held accountable for spreading misinformation and hate speech? Everyone is exposed to misinformation on the internet and this is a big problem because it can mislead people and lead to terrible things. It is important that we all take responsibility for these tools, from the leaders of the platforms to their users.
There is a need to integrate digital education into school curricula to teach people how technology, platforms and algorithms work. As a result, young people become more aware of digital tools and no longer believe false information.
It requires critical thinking and asking where it came from, whether it is a reliable source and whether such an argument is plausible. Everyone is vulnerable, but the more aware we become, the better prepared we are for misinformation.
This is your second stay in Brazil. Why did you decide to come back? I was looking for an excuse to come back and found the right opportunity when I was invited to attend the LER Festival. I now support educational activism through the Malala Fund.
The institute participated in election campaigns and persuaded the authorities to take a strong stand on education, sign commitments for equal education and create a manifesto for girls.
It was wonderful to provide a platform for female voices. I’m back in Brazil and I can’t wait to meet activists, hear what the girls have to say and support them in their work. I hope to take her into the rooms where decisions are made that affect her life. I want to make a connection between their voices and the voices of leaders.
I’m also looking forward to seeing all the beautiful places in Brazil and enjoying the music, beauty and wonderful food. I will explore Rio a little and go for a walk on the beach. I would like to watch a football match and also I would like to meet the captain of the Brazilian cricket team, [Roberta Moretti]. I love supporting women in sports.
Does the Malala Fund have future plans for Brazil? We continue to work with activists and they are doing great work internationally. There are special projects for Black, Indigenous and Quilombola girls. The institute ensures that the voices of these girls are at the center of its work, for their rights and for an equal and safe education.
What can Brazil teach the world? And what could the country learn from the rest? Brazil has an incredible opportunity to lead the way in access to education. Many girls and women are activists and have everything ready on paper. They know how to make change happen, so it’s important that they get involved and that their voice is heard.
Brazil can lead the way in children’s access to education, which would inspire other countries to take the same step. Many nations are concerned about global issues but forget to talk about the people. If we empower people and provide them with quality education and equal opportunities, some of these problems will be solved.
Because of the pandemic, many girls dropped out of school. How can this problem be solved? The pandemic brought about a huge loss of education and also left some communities behind. It is important for managers to be aware of this.
Some communities were hit harder than others. There is a need to pay attention to and invest more in the Black, Indigenous and Quilombola communities, which have high rates of girls dropping out of school. They were less likely to complete their education anyway, and the pandemic has made that even more difficult.
In October, “Eu Sou Malala” will complete a decade of release. What stories will you tell in the next book? I am very excited to be writing a new paper. The first was about my life before the attack and how I became an activist at such a young age. A lot happened after that and I will share everything. I enjoy thinking about my life. I hope people learn something from me.