Modern-Day School of Athens

Malala Yousafzai co-founded the Malala Fund with her father, which advocates for girls’ education and empowerment in less developed countries. In 2014, Malala became the youngest person to ever receive a Nobel Prize(age 17), as well as Glamour magazine’s Woman of the Year in 2013. Malala is currently working on another memoir, telling the story of her fight for womens’ rights and recognition.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was an activist who fought for civil rights for all races, as well as the founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference(SCLC). In 1963, he delivered his famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, and was a major figure in the fight for civil rights.

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States, and he led the country through the Civil War. He is best known for his inspiring speech, The Emancipation Proclamation, which eventually put an end to slavery in the States.

Florence Nightingale was one of the most influential female nurses in history, and in 1860, she created the first professional school for nurses, The Nightingale Training School. Nightingale cared for many wounded British soldiers during the Crimean War, saving thousands of lives.

Mother Teresa was a Roman-Catholic nun and missionary who devoted her life to helping those in need. She was considered a saint because of all her work with the sick and needy in Calcutta. In 1950, she founded the Missionaries of Charity in India, and she helped those in need for over 45 years.

Mahatma Gandhi was an Indian activist who successfully promoted nonviolent resistance and equal rights for religious and ethnic groups. He was a very prominent figure in the long-lasting fight for India’s independence, which eventually came true on August 15, 1947.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the second woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. In her 27 years of service, she advocated for gender equality and women's rights in landmark cases and rulings. Ruth Bader Ginsburg's impact on the law was created by her careful thinking, groundbreaking opinions, and strong dedication to making sure everyone is treated fairly.

Amelia Earhart was a brave pilot who made history by being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Her incredible flights inspired women everywhere to follow their passions and break gender norms and boundaries. Although she mysteriously vanished during her attempt to fly around the world, Earhart's courage and determination still continue to inspire people around the globe today.

Rosa Parks, often called the mother of the civil rights movement, sparked the struggle for racial equality when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white man. This act of resistance started the Montgomery Bus Boycott and was a major factor in the civil rights movement.

Harriet Tubman was an incredibly brave and selfless woman who helped many enslaved people escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad. She fought against slavery and worked tirelessly for civil rights and equality. Tubman’s actions were a brave effort to save enslaved people from a life of labor and mistreatment.

Anne Frank was just a teenager when the Nazis invaded Poland and her family was forced to go into hiding. Her diary, found much after her death, is a poignant and haunting memoir of the horrors of World War Two. This diary helps us remember the suffering and resilience of people living through Nazi persecution.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was an advocate for women's rights in the United States during the 19th century. She played a key role in organizing the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, the first woman's rights convention in history. Her lifelong dedication to the cause laid the groundwork for the eventual passing of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in the United States.

Sojourner Truth was a remarkable African American abolitionist and women's rights activist in the 19th century. Born into slavery, she later became a powerful advocate for the rights of both African Americans and women. Her famous speech "Ain't I a Woman?" at the 1851 Women's Rights Convention in Ohio, brought attention to the struggle for equality.

Nelson Mandela was a very prominent figure in the fight against apartheid and for human rights in South Africa. He was imprisoned for his activism, emerging 27 years later as a symbol of resistance and reconciliation. He was eventually elected as the country's first black president in 1994, proving his unwavering commitment to equality and justice, which continues to inspire people worldwide.

Frederick Douglass was a prominent African American activist and social reformer in the 19th century. He was born into slavery, but escaped and became a powerful abolitionist through his speeches and autobiographies. He was also a supporter and close friend of Abraham Lincoln, and together, the two worked hard to advocate for equal rights and education.

Helen Keller was an activist, author, and advocate for disabled peoples’ rights. Due to an illness, Keller became deaf and blind when she was barely a year old. Despite these struggles, her inspiring life and work as an activist earned her a Presidential Medal of Freedom, as well as a spot on the Women’s Hall of Fame.