Oct. 11th is a day for change! Michelle Obama stands up for young girls around the world.

Simon Davis

First Lady, Michelle Obama greets students from the Mulberry School for Girls in Towers Hamlets, London, June 16, 2015, prior to leading a discussion on the importance of female education and announcing a partnership with the UK Department for International Development.

Somer Benton
November 3, 2015

First lady Michelle Obama jams to Beyonce, Fergie and Jennifer Hudson while celebrating the International Day of the Girl.

In 2011, the United Nations (UN) announced Oct. 11, the International Day of the Girl. This resolution strives “to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world,” according to the UN.

Obama initiated the “Let Girls Learn” campaign which promotes the education of young girls all over the world. She gave remarks to congress in the east room of The White House, transcribed on The White House website.

“I want to use my time and my platform as first lady and beyond to make a real impact on this issue…These are community challenges that call for community solutions,” said Obama in her campaign launch speech.

62 million girls are not in school according to United States Agency for the International Development (USAID), a government agency that works to lower the number of people living in poverty. “Let Girls Learn” reinforces decades of work done by the USAID to help the lives of girls and women all over the world.

Obama works with Peace Corps volunteers and many programs such as Day of the Girl, an entirely youth led movement,  to promote her campaign to other countries.

“I just can’t sit back and accept the barriers that keep them [girls] from realizing their promise,” Obama said.

Michelle Obama promotes her campaign by sharing her commitment to advancing adolescent girls’ education. She wants to renew efforts to accelerate progress in overcoming barriers that girls face in achieving an education.
Michelle Obama promotes her campaign by sharing her commitment to advancing adolescent girls’ education. She wants to renew efforts to accelerate progress in overcoming barriers that girls face in achieving an education.

The Peace Corps’ “Let Girls Learn” program will begin this project in 11 countries in its first year, including Cambodia, Ghana and Uganda. They plan to spread this campaign to more countries next year.

Obama is thrilled to announce the launch of a new community focus girls education initiative across the globe as a part of her “Let Girls Learn” campaign.

In celebration of the International Day of the Girl, Obama tweeted Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, a Spotify link to 20 songs in honor of the International Day of the Girl.

The playlist has a mix of old and new school songs ranging from Billie Holiday to Jessie J, Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande.

“True change doesn’t happen from the top down, it happens from the bottom up,”Obama said.

Photo courtesy of Simon Davis/DFID