Meridian Partners with the U.S. Department of State to Implement the U.S. Exchange of the Let Girls Learn Initiative

In October 2016, Meridian International Center partnered with the U.S. Department of State to implement the U.S. Exchange of the Let Girls Learn Initiative. Launched by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in March 2015, the U.S. Exchange represents one step in the larger, multi-faceted Let Girls Learn project; and, more specifically, acts as a follow-on to the First Lady’s visit to Morocco and Liberia in June of this year as part of the CNN documentary, We Will Rise: Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls Around the World. On International Day of the Girl, Tuesday, October 11, 2016, the girls attended a dialogue event at the Newseum to discuss challenges and successes for improving girls’ access to education, joined remotely by school groups from every region of the world. Following the Newseum, Mrs. Obama invited all of the Let Girls Learn participants to join her at the White House for a special screening of We Will Rise with Meryl Streep and CNN journalist, Isha Sesay.

The Let Girls Learn participants, 44 young women from Morocco and Liberia, embody a wide collection of life experiences and aspirations. Let Girls Learn enables access to quality education for girls throughout the world, the Let Girls Learn initiative has helped these girls to achieve personal goals and to strive to create similar opportunities for all girls around the globe. The U.S. Exchange Program brought multiple opportunities for the girls to explore Washington and meet with officials, professionals, and fellow students dedicated to empowering women through education around the world. Over the course of the program, the girls shared stories with a diverse group of American girls in a "Chat and Chai" event organized by Peace Corps; enjoyed a visit to the National Museum of African American History; attended briefings at the U.S. Department of State; participated in a Learning Lab and tour the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum; and met international students at Washington area universities to discuss education in the United States.

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