First Lady Michelle Obama Reflects on International Day of the Girl

Photo Courtesy of Unslpash

“For me, education was power.”

First Lady Michelle Obama didn’t grow up knowing many people who went to college, but she went on to attend Princeton and Harvard Universities.

As First Lady, she then went on to form the Let Girls Learn initiative. Let Girls Learn was established last year in order to give young women the option to receive their education–especially to those who may not have had access otherwise.

As the First Lady reflects on meeting Malala Yousafzai, we are reminded of the dangers many girls around the world face while trying to receive a proper education. There are millions of girls worldwide who are unable to attend school due to familial obligations, poverty, or cultural pressure.

In the past year, Let Girls Learn has developed corporate partnerships and expanded worldwide. As a result, several countries have pledged almost $600 million, The World Bank Group will invest $2.5 billion over the next five years, and the United States has dedicated over a billion dollars.

In addition to the accomplishments Let Girls Learn has achieved, a new film from CNN featuring the First Lady entitled “We Will Rise” will air Wednesday, October 12 at 9 pm. “We Will Rise” documents the lives of girls in Liberia and Morocco and how they struggle to receive their educations.

Our girls have big dreams, but sometimes their dreams go unnoticed. The Let Girls Learn initiative is working hard to ensure that girls across the world have access to education, no matter the circumstances. Visit LetGirlsLearn.Gov to learn more about the initiative, take action, and help girls receive the education they deserve.

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Written By: Autumn Dalton