Rebel Girls authors donate $100,000 to Malala Fund

Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo are donating $100,000 from the proceeds of their book Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls (Particular Books) to the Malala Fund.

Favilli and Cavallo, who are donating the money through their Timbuktu media company, said: “Malala, a global symbol of the fight for girl’s empowerment, is an inspiration for millions of girls and young women around the world. She is one of the 100 women featured in the first volume of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, and told us that many young girls come to her with our book and want her to autograph the page with her portrait. With her foundation Malala Fund, she is leading the fight to give all girls access to education - especially in countries where they are traditionally marginalized. We couldn't be more aligned with her mission and vision for a brighter and more equal future.”

The pair created Rebel Girls in 2016, which is shortlisted in The British Book Awards' Children's Book of the Year category, after launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund it. The book features the stories of 100 inspirational women, from Elizabeth I to Serena Williams, and is illustrated by 60 different artists. The book was later picked up by Penguin Random House division Particular Books and was last year named Blackwell's book of the year and Foyles' children's book of the year.

Cavallo and Favilli also created the ‘Rebel Girls movement’ to empower girls and women using the examples of the women in their book.