As part of a two-day visit to London to promote global education for girls, US First Lady Michelle Obama took questions from schoolgirls in East London today (16 June).
Visiting Mulberry School For Girls in the London borough of Tower Hamlets, Obama told the girls that their passion is what inspires her.
I am always in awe of what you are able to do, what you are able to push through, how hungry you are for your education, that when given the tools and the opportunity you run with it, she said, highlighting how there are 62 million girls in the world who are not in education.
I just think about how much we are losing when we dont tap into that energy. That there are 62 million girls out there who are just as bright, just as impactful potentially, just as passionate, but who have no voice, no opportunity, no resources to develop into the young women you all will be, she said.
Obama encouraged the pupils to use social media to reach out to girls in other countries to promote the importance of learning.
I can just tell in the way that you carry yourselves and your confidence, the way you look me in the eye and other people, that you have what it takes inside of you, that inspires me. That makes me think through these partnerships we can figure this out, she said.
Earlier in the day Obama met with Prince Harry and the two discussed the importance of men and boys being part of her Let Girls Learn initiative.
Weve got to send different messages about the importance of educating our girls. You know, our sons are important, we love men, we all do. They are useful, I have one in my life, I like him, but you know, we have to change the definition of what it means to invest in our young girls, said Obama.
The first lady was greeted like a rock star at Mulberry with pupils wildly cheering her. At the end of her Q and A session, she chatted to the youngsters, giving them plenty of hugs.
