2014's most influential young people
As Malala collects her Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, DW takes a look at young people around the world who have made a difference this year.
A schoolgirl's fight for education
Malala Yousafzai, a 17-year-old activist from Pakistan, is the youngest ever person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Two years ago, Malala was shot by the Taliban for her work promoting education for girls. Receiving her prize, Malala said the life story she told was not unique but "the story of many girls." She dedicated the award to the "forgotten children who want education."
A tragedy of civic courage
Twenty-three-year-old German student Tugce Albayrak was fatally attacked in November, after she intervened on behalf of two girls who were being harassed by three men at a fast food restaurant. Her death ignited a debate on civic courage, with many Germans asking whether people today are as courageous as they should be in such circumstances.
Rallying for democracy
Joshua Wong (center) is the 18-year-old leader of the student protest movement which has been fighting for democracy in Hong Kong. Along with the activist group Occupy Central, the students occupied areas of the financial and governmental districts in the city, calling for the right to vote freely for the leadership of the semi-autonomous state without interference from mainland China.
The courage to speak up
After being abused and beaten by her employers while working as a maid in Hong Kong, Erwiana Sulistyaningsih has become an advocate for better laws to protect others who could find themselves in her situation. The 23-year-old Indonesian's courage to talk about her ordeal meant that her case sparked international outrage, and has shed light on the plight of migrant workers around the world.
Tragedy sparks change
Since 43 students went missing in Mexico in September, only one of their bodies has been identified - that of 19-year-old Alexander Mora, who was studying to be a sports teacher. The students' disappearance highlighted a huge problem in the country - at least 26,000 have gone missing in the past seven years. Thousands of Mexicans continue to protest, calling for answers and justice.
A revolutionary voice
Lina Ben Mhenni, a Tunisian blogger, has continued to work for democracy in her country since the Tunisian Revolution, which marked the start of the Arab Spring. The 31-year-old activist writes in Arabic, French and English on her blog "A Tunisian Girl," speaking out against corruption and censorship. Mhenni's work gives a female voice to democracy in the Middle East and North Africa.