Speaking in English, Malala said she wanted to “serve the people”.

“Today you can see that I’m alive. I can speak, I can see you, I can see everyone and today I can speak and I’m getting better day by day.

“It’s just because of the prayers of people, because all the people - men, women, children - all of them have prayed for me.

“Because of these prayers God has given me this new life and this is a second life.

“I want to serve the people and I want every girl, every child, to be educated and for that reason we have organised Malala Fund.”

Yousafzai nearly died after being shot in October while campaigning for the rights of education for young girls. She has been receiving treatment in Birmingham, England, since the incident.