U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, Daughters & Mum Promote Girls’ Education in Africa

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama, her mother Marian Robinson and daughters Sasha and Malia arrived Marrakesh, Morocco, on Tuesday on a six-day tour to promote girls’ education with her ‘Let Girls Learn‘ initiative.

The initiative, which was launched in March 2015 by President Barrack Obama and his wife, was the highlight of the meeting the first lady had with girls from different towns in Morroco.

“I am sitting here now as the U.S. first lady, talking to you, because of my education,” she said at the meeting.

According to Reuters UK, official data shows that more than a third of Morocco’s population of 34 million is illiterate, which is one of the highest rates in North Africa, and the rate is higher for women at 41 percent.

During the meeting, the U.S. government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) was launched and it includes $100 million to be spent on 100,000 Moroccan students, half of whom will be teenage girls. It was revealed that the funds come from $450 million given by the MCC last year to boost education in Morocco.

Actresses Meryl Streep and Freida Pinto, both advocates for empowering girls through education, were at the meeting to show their support. The first lady also met with King Mohammed VI’s wife Princess Lalla Selma,

Photo credit: AFP/Getty Images