Ellen Ludtke, Reporter
@eludtkecourant
Six months ago, the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the youngest laureate ever nominated. At only 17 years old, Malala Yousafzai gained the ultimate recognition for her work and dedication towards women’s educational rights in her native country of Pakistan.
Last year, Malala published her memoir with British journalist Christina Lamb entitled I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban. The memoir was an instant sell-out, and within the first few months of its publication it won the Goodreads Best Memoir & Autobiography Award and gained a spot on the New York Times’ Best Seller list.
Malala’s inspirational story caught the attention of the then-teen librarian at the New Canaan Library Cheryl Capitani as well as Head of English department Heidi D’Acosta, who both initially wanted to use the book for the town-wide book club program, One Town, One Book. “We loved the idea, but for various reasons it didn’t end up being right for our One Book program,” Ms. Capitani said. “But, we didn’t want to lose it as a method to start a really great conversation in our community.”
From there, Ms. Capitani and Ms. D’Acosta decided upon having a separate NCHS event dedicated to I Am Malala open to the entire New Canaan community. “We thought that we would like to have an event that would draw in a high school crowd as well as adults,” Ms. D’Acosta said. “So, we came up with the idea of an inter-generational read and discussion of I Am Malala.”
Once the idea was finalized, Ms. Capitani discussed the project with Co-Chair of the United Nations Committee of New Canaan, Shekaiba Bennett. “I brought it up to her and she jumped right on board saying that she’d love to help in any way she could,” Ms. Capitani said. “She has a lot of knowledge and passion for the issue.”
The discussion, which took place on Thursday, April 30 from 10 to 11:30 am in the Wagner Room, was open to all New Canaan students and adults who read I Am Malala. Ms. Bennett gave a keynote speech about the education system in Pakistan to give everyone background about Malala’s life. Additionally, a short slideshow about Malala, as well as a video clip of her Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech was presented. Mixed tables of students and adults were then given a set of questions about the book to lead a period of conversation and discussion.
Ms. D’Acosta hopes that this new opportunity allowed NCHS students as well as New Canaan residents can get to know each other. “I think it’s the first event of its kind because it’s a place for the town and NCHS students to interface,” she said.
Ms. Capitani agrees, however, she is also interested to see what the adults will learn from the experience. “From my perspective, it’s really what the adults get out of this,” she said. “I think it would be good if they could see what teenagers are capable of, and what ideas they can bring to the table.”
Sophomore Erica Smith was also touched by the story after having read I Am Malala. “I like how it gave me a new perspective on what it means to be a girl in other places around the world,” she said. “I think the integration between students and adults will be very effective because the combination of adults and students will add many different perspectives to the discussions that will make them very thought provoking.”
Ms. Capitani is hopeful that the I Am Malala conference will teach students and adults alike in more ways than one. “Malala’s story is so inspiring. When she was 11, she was an advocate for education in a country that did not want her to know how to read at the very base of it,” she said. “In a community like New Canaan where we have so many opportunities, it’s very important that we’re all aware of the challenges that other people around the world face just for the most basic necessities.”
