On Saturday October 8, twenty-one Moroccan girls boarded a Royal Air Maroc flight destined for Washington, DC to meet U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House. The girls will continue the conversation that they started with the First Lady when she visited Marrakech in June where they discussed their shared commitment to education as part of the “Let Girls Learn” initiative. These young women, who come from diverse backgrounds and communities including Tetoune, Casablanca, Essaouira and Ouarzazate, so impressed Mrs. Obama with their dedication to following their dreams that she invited the girls to her home in the U.S. capital.
To support this effort, the U.S. Embassy under the leadership of U.S. Ambassador Dwight L. Bush funded this unique exchange experience, thanks in large part to the generous support of Royal Air Maroc. While in Washington D.C., these young women will participate in activities designed to develop their leadership skills and celebrate their commitment to achieving their educational goals.
The signature event will be a celebration of the United Nation’s International Day of the Girl Child on October 11 with a special screening at the White House, of the new CNN International Film We Will Rise: Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls Around the World. Other events will include a real-time, digital conversation with adolescent girls in Jordan, Peru, Tanzania, and the United Kingdom; a meeting with representatives from the Moroccan Embassy in D.C.; and visits to the new African American History Museum, the Air and Space Museum, and local U.S. universities.
The U.S. Embassy and Royal Air Maroc are proud to support this exchange experience. Ambassador Bush will accompany the group on their visit.
“I am delighted to be accompanying these young women to Washington D.C. to meet once again with First Lady Michelle Obama because they represent the ambition of all young Moroccans who want to make an enduring, positive impact for their families, their communities, and their country,” said Ambassador Bush. “Elevating the voices of young women and girls across Morocco allows us to understand their hopes and aspirations and ensure that they are an integral part of our shared efforts to build a more peaceful and prosperous world.”
