She was met with screams, whoops and cheers - and she left a truckload of inspiration behind. Michelle Obama’s three-day London visit, from Monday, this week was always going to be quite the event and it’s fair to say that it didn’t disappoint. On a whistle-stop global tour, the First Lady visited the Mulberry School for Girls in Tower Hamlets to speak about girls’ education in the UK and around the world as part of her #LetGirlsLearn initiative.
The initiative aims to ensure education for the 62 million girls around the world who are currently out of schooling. It was announced on Tuesday that the UK will be supporting the project as a new £115million partnership between the United States and United Kingdom launches to educated women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Dazzling in a paisley Mary Katranzou dress, statuesque Michelle - and her empowering speech - left hundreds of school girls (and us) in awe. Here are just a few things we learned from the First Lady’s visit:
1) Background is irrelevant to success.
Michelle spoke of her family’s expectations growing up. She was expected to balance her education with her family responsibilities. ‘I often woke up at 4am in the morning when the house was finally quiet, just so I could concentrate and finish my school work,’ she said. In spite of this, her parents always drummed in to Michelle and her brother that they could be whatever they wanted - just as long as they tried their hardest at school.
2) Barriers need to be broken.
There are currently 62 million girls not in school across the world. Even when they do have access to education, those in developing countries will face further struggles. In families with limited income, sons’ education will often be prioritised above daughters. Young girls who do have access to education are frequently subjected to abuse and exploitation, and have limited access to adequate sanitation facilities.
3) There is more to delivering an education that just money.
Each additional year a woman spends in education could increase her income by up to 25%. But in the developing world, the benefits extend far further from financial gain. In Burkina Faso, educated women are 40% less likely to subject their daughters to female genital mutilation, while girls with a secondary school education are up to 6 times less likely to be forced into child marriage.
4) Education can break through stereotypes.
Michelle encouraged the audience to rise above a society that may not be able to see past their religion. 'You have everything you need to… fulfil every one of your dreams…I am looking at you, and I see surgeons, barristers…women who will inspire, not just in Tower Hamlets, but around the world. If we get ourselves an education, we can lift ourselves up to heights we never imagined.'
5) We really wish she was married to David Cameron instead.
We didn't think it was possible, but her whirlwind trip made us fall in love with her even more.
By Jess Howard