Apple partners with Malala to support education for girls

The company did not reveal the size of its financial commitment but expects to double the number of grants the nonprofit offers.

Katie Collins Senior European Correspondent

Katie a UK-based news reporter and features writer. Officially, she is CNET's European correspondent, covering tech policy and Big Tech in the EU and UK. Unofficially, she serves as CNET's Taylor Swift correspondent. You can also find her writing about tech for good, ethics and human rights, the climate crisis, robots, travel and digital culture. She was once described a "living synth" by London's Evening Standard for having a microchip injected into her hand.

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Katie Collins

Jan. 22, 2018 9:50 a.m. PT

2 min read

Malala Yousafzai speaks at Denver school — Malala Yousafzai's nonprofit seeks 12 years of free, safe and quality education for girls worldwide.
RJ Sangosti/Getty

It's a good day for education.

Apple has announced a partnership with the Malala Fund designed to enable the nonprofit to double the number of grants it offers and extend its funding programs to India and Latin America.

The Malala Fund, set up in 2013 by Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, partners with governments and organizations around the world to fight for every girl's right to 12 years of free, safe and quality education. Apple is becoming the fund's first Laureate partner, and Apple CEO Tim Cook will join its leadership council.

Apple is proud to support the courageous, visionary @Malala in advancing every girl’s right to 12 years of free, safe, quality education. Together we’re committing to expand the reach of @MalalaFund and provide secondary school opportunities to girls around the world. https://t.co/K9I64tJTWh
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) January 22, 2018

"We believe that education is a great equalizing force, and we share Malala Fund's commitment to give every girl an opportunity to go to school," Cook said late Sunday in a statement.

Through the partnership, Apple will also scale up the organization by assisting with technology, curriculum and research into policy changes. Apple's statement did not reveal the size of its financial commitment to the nonprofit, and Apple representatives didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Yousafzai, who is 20, began advocating for human rights as a child after the local Taliban banned girls education in her area. In 2012 as she was gaining international recognition, she almost died when a Taliban militant shot her in head. Instead of retreating, however, Yousafzai's activism grew.

"Through both their innovations and philanthropy," Yousafzai said in the statement, "Apple has helped educate and empower people around the world. I am grateful that Apple knows the value of investing in girls and is joining Malala Fund in the fight to ensure all girls can learn and lead without fear."

Originally published, Jan. 22 at 3:53 a.m. PT.
Update, 9:50 a.m. PT: Adds Tim Cook's tweet and background information about Malala Yousafzai.

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