She 's an activist and a survivor known by her first name only . Malala has inspired people around the world to stand with her for girls ' education . Now , Malala Yousafzai is launching her own nonprofit organization , a year after being shot by the Taliban while heading to school in Pakistan . The Malala Fund is officially described as being focused on helping girls go to school and raise their voices for the right to education . The organization 's mission seems to be based on a statement from Malala : `` They thought that the bullets would silence us , but they failed . And out of that silence came thousands of voices . '' `` Malala is a symbol , a catalyst to get people excited about making an impact , '' says Shiza Shahid , 24 , CEO of the Malala Fund . `` People have wanted to help and to give and now the fund can drive this energy . '' Shahid says The Malala Fund will try to battle the things standing between many girls and education , including culture , violence , poverty and a lack of quality schools . She says Malala wanted to build an organization to empower girls to survive and thrive , because , says Shahid , `` There is still so much to do . '' Shahid met Malala several years ago and even helped organize a summer camp for Malala and other girls in Islamabad in 2009 . Born in Pakistan , Shahid 's family made education its priority . Shahid won a scholarship to Stanford University then went to work in the private sector before turning to nonprofit work with The Malala Fund . `` Malala has an incredible voice , '' says Shahid . `` We wanted to enable her to raise her voice when she wanted to , but still be able to be a 16-year-old girl and focus on her studies . '' Malala is now in the 10th grade and although she has not decided where she will attend university , Shahid says Oxford and Harvard may be among the schools in the running . While attending school , Malala seems ready to continue to inspire other girls through The Malala Fund and a growing social media movement . CONNECT . Malala wants to give girls power and she loves to connect with girls on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook . She has held Google hangouts , Google and Facebook chats . A big focus of The Malala Fund is to continue to facilitate a social connection between Malala and girls around the world . INSPIRE . Many celebrities go by one name only , but Miley and Madonna do n't quite hold the power of Malala . There have been hundreds of millions of tweets over the past year containing the name Malala . People are now being encouraged to tell their Malala story by submitting a photo or video . Some samples of how people are telling their Malala story at # IamMalala . `` # IAmMalala because she is brave , and empowered . I hope all young women can follow in her footsteps ! '' `` # IamMalala because she inspires me . We need more Malalas in the world because every girl has the right to go to school . '' Actress Selena Gomez tweeted `` # IamMalala I stand with Malala because there should be more young women like her . She is MY role model . '' GIVE . In addition to raising awareness , The Malala Fund will be raising money . The goal is not to use the money to set up big regional offices and efforts but to empower global communities from the inside . Shahid says the fund will be looking for what she calls `` innovative solutions '' in developing countries and will support those programs . The fund wants to amplify the voice of already established and proven organizations helping to fight the good fight for girls education . Malala has already used some money in her hometown in Pakistan 's Swat Valley . The money was used as a stipend to help poor families send girls to school instead of to work . Domestic child labor keeps many girls around the world out of school . The Malala Fund calls it a moral imperative to give the innocent some sort of power and let people know what it means to be an educated girl . In a way , we are all Malala and we can all do something . For more ways you can help the cause of girls ' education , go to CNN.com/impact .
A year after being shot by the Taliban , Malala Yousafzai launches a nonprofit organization . MalalaFund.org is Malala 's campaign to inspire others to change the world for girls . Tell your Malala Story on Twitter at # IamMalala .