Education urged for Vietnamese girls by Michelle Obama and Julia Roberts
Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of the United States, recently visited Can Giuoc high school in rural Vietnam to urge teenage girls to focus on their education. The visit was part of her ongoing charitable work, which has a strong focus on promoting girls' education, especially in Vietnam.
The Girls Opportunity Alliance, an initiative under the Obama Foundation, is one of the platforms Michelle Obama uses to advocate for girls' education. Through this alliance, she supports initiatives that help adolescent girls through skill-building, life skills assessments, and educator training to improve literacy and gender equality in education. In Vietnam, the efforts include revising Room to Read’s Adolescent Life Skills Assessment and educator coaching to empower girls and address gender inequalities.
Room to Read, a leading nonprofit partner associated with Michelle Obama's advocacy, is working on the development of programs in Vietnam that focus on skill building and community engagement for girls. These programs aim to foster lifelong learning and resilience. Activities like life skills training and climate change education from a gender perspective are being implemented, demonstrating a holistic approach to girls' empowerment.
Michelle Obama's visit to Can Giuoc high school comes at a time when economic pressures in the poorest pockets of Vietnam can force girls out of school early. Despite a school enrolment rate of 91.7%, the quality of schooling often drops off in rural areas. However, Vietnam routinely outperforms its neighbors in education rankings, especially in math and sciences.
During her visit, Michelle Obama encouraged the girls to stay committed and focused on their schooling. She emphasized that educating a girl gives them power, a voice, and an opportunity to improve their lives and the lives of their family and community. She also mentioned that even if families don't understand the importance of education today, they will appreciate it when the girls go off to college or start their businesses.
Michelle Obama's book, Becoming, details how her education and good teachers shaped her life. The Obamas have dedicated much of their time post-presidency to the non-profit Obama Foundation. In fact, Michelle Obama recently announced a $500,000 donation to the Alliance's work worldwide, earned from merchandise sales related to her book.
Accompanying Michelle Obama on her visit were Hollywood A-lister Julia Roberts and Jenna Bush Hager. After Vietnam, Michelle Obama will travel to Malaysia with Barack and Julia Roberts to speak at an Obama Foundation Leaders event on December 10.
In conclusion, Michelle Obama's charitable work emphasizes empowering girls through education, skill development, and community support. Vietnam is one of the active regions benefiting from these programs, with initiatives like Room to Read's Adolescent Life Skills Assessment and educator coaching making a significant impact.
- Michelle Obama's charitable efforts, like the Girls Opportunity Alliance, focus on promoting education, especially for girls, and include initiatives that improve literacy and gender equality in education.
- During her visit to Can Giuoc high school in Vietnam, Michelle Obama encouraged the girls to stay focused on their education, emphasizing that it gives them power, a voice, and the opportunity to better their lives and their communities.
- The Obama Foundation's work, including the Girls Opportunity Alliance, supports various programs, such as Room to Read's programs in Vietnam, which aim to foster lifelong learning and resilience through skill building, community engagement, and education from a gender perspective.
- Michelle Obama's influence extends beyond education, as she collaborates with celebrities like Julia Roberts and Jenna Bush Hager, who also support her charitable work and join her in raising awareness about the importance of education for girls, especially in developing countries.
