Give me an O, give me a C, give me a G! (Obama, Clooney, Gates)

 Ok, here is the BIG news— I had intended to do a whole build up and create some anticipation, BUT! As you can imagine, it has been beyond nutty here.

When it slows down, I’ll share more of the story. Today I am in South Africa, Cape Town — I rode with the First Lady’s convoy in a charter plane— Oh, yes I did! AHHHHHHHH! And we are all now going to a one day conference.

This is unbelievable folks!

Love you to you all!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

MICHELLE OBAMA, AMAL CLOONEY, AND MELINDA FRENCH GATES VISIT ADVANCING GIRLS’ EDUCATION IN AFRICA (AGE Africa) PARTNER SCHOOL IN MALAWI

November 15, 2023 - MALAWI, Africa - Former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, global philanthropist Melinda French Gates, and leading human rights lawyer Amal Clooney visited an AGE Africa partner school in Malawi this week. The visit was a unique opportunity for these global leaders to interact with academically promising adolescent girls and young women who show remarkable resilience and determination to overcome their circumstances and seek education.

 

The day began with an AGE Africa CHATS (Creating Health Approaches to Success) session, where 30 students discussed ending child marriage strategies, where one in two girls marry before the age of 18. CHATS targets the main barriers to girls’ achievement in Malawi through a locally designed, innovative, peer-led model. The session demonstrated the girls' pragmatic approach to tackling this grave societal issue and served as a testament to their resolve to shape their own destinies.

Following the CHATS session, Mrs. Obama, Ms. French Gates, and Mrs. Clooney participated in a round-table discussion with three successful AGE Africa alumnae. These brave women shared their stories of overcoming adversity and highlighted AGE Africa's transformative impact on their lives.

Lastly, the visit featured a one-on-one interaction between the girls and Mrs. Obama. This platform allowed the students to ask questions and share their stories, aspirations, and challenges. In return, they found inspiration from Mrs. Obama, who listened, provided guidance, and affirmed their worth.

“This event has left an indelible mark on our girls. Seeing themselves through a global lens reinforced their belief in their potential,” said the joint statement from Concepción Gaxiola, AGE Africa’s Executive Director, and Ulanda Mtamba, Country Director. “The visit by these influential women has undoubtedly ignited a spark of hope and ambition among the girls, further strengthening AGE Africa's mission to empower young girls through education.”

AGE Africa extends its heartfelt gratitude to Mrs. Obama, Ms. French Gates, and Mrs. Clooney for their time, engagement, and genuine interest in our girls' lives. Their visit has renewed a sense of purpose and determination among our scholars.

About Advancing Girls’ Education in Africa (AGE Africa): AGE Africa is a DC-based nonprofit organization operating in rural Malawi dedicated to providing life-changing opportunities to adolescent girls through targeted initiatives in education, mentoring, and leadership development. AGE Africa partners with 47 schools throughout Malawi’s central and southern regions, delivering 500 comprehensive scholarships for girls and young women in secondary school and university, including alumnae's transition to higher education and postsecondary employment, Creating Healthy Approaches to Success (CHATS) for more than 5,000 girls and young women. CHATS is also available through nationwide radio broadcasts, reaching over 4 million girls nationwide. For more information about AGE Africa and to donate, please visit www.ageafrica.org.

Links within the story: 

AGE Africa social media links: 

Facebook: http://facebook.com/ageafricamalawi/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ageafrica

Instagram: http://instagram.com/ageafrica/ 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/age-africa-advancing-girls'-education

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For media inquiries within the United States

Concepción Gaxiola

Phone:  +1 202 286 3498

cgaxiola@ageafrica.org

 

For media inquiries within Malawi

Ulanda Mtamba 

Phone:  +265 888 86 38 99

umtamba@ageafrica.org

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For media inquiries