Michelle Obama Goes Global for Let Girls Learn Initiative
See her travels through Japan and Cambodia.
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On the Road - First Lady Michelle Obama has set out for an international tour in support of the Let Girls Learn initiative, which aims to encourage and support community-led solutions to reduce barriers that prevent adolescent girls from completing their education worldwide, according to the White House. She's traveling to Japan and Cambodia from March 18 to 22, meeting with leaders and locals to further the movement toward gender equality. Click ahead for a look into her travels. By Britt Middleton (Photo: EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON /LANDOV)
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View From the Top - From her seat on board Air Force One, she shared this stunning view of Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan. (Photo: Michelle Obama via Instagram)
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FLOTUS Fresh - Mrs. Obama was elegant and fresh for her arrival at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo on March 18, wearing a spring-ready A-line Kenzo dress in shades of chartreuse. Go, Mrs. O! (Photo: REUTERS/ISSEI KATO/LANDOV)
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Home Away From Home - On March 19, she visited the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, where she posed for a sweet snapshot with a room of friendly faces. She captioned this photo, "Say cheese!" (Photo: Michelle Obama via Instagram)
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Two First Ladies - Mrs. Obama then traveled to the Foreign Ministry's Iikura Guest House for a meeting to discuss strengthening assistance for girls’ education in developing countries with Akie Abe, the wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Photo: Kyodo/Landov)
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Investing in Their Future - Addressing the attendees at the event, Mrs. Obama said, "We know that educating girls is the best investment we can make, not just in their future but in the future of their families, their communities and their countries.” (Photo: EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON/LANDOV)
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High Spirits - The experience was also one of bonding for the First Lady, who shared laughs with an interpreter and a Takata high school student named Natsuko during the event. (Photo: TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images)
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What a View - On March 20, FLOTUS set off for sightseeing and cultural activities, captioning this photo, “Taking in a beautiful view of Kyoto from the Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist Temple with @Amb_Kennedy” (Photo: Michelle Obama via Instagram)
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Commander-in-Chic - For her visit, she wore a printed tunic over black slacks and classic pointed flats, her hair curled in soft, face-framing waves. Always prepared for the camera! (Photo: TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images)
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Taste of Japan - Breaking for lunch, the First Lady wrote on Instagram, “Lunch time in Kyoto: A delicious and colorful bento box at the Jojuin Temple.” Yum! (Photo: Michelle Obama via Instagram)
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Taking in the Culture - Mrs. Obama, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy and her son Jack Schlossberg were then treated to a traditional Noh play performance in the square. (Photo: TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images)
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Drum Line - To cap off the festivities, the Akutagawa High School Taiko Club performed two songs with Fushimi Inari Shrine Head Priest Akira Nakamura. (Photo: TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images)
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Rhythm Nation - Mrs. Obama even tried her hand at taiko drums, which are traditional Japanese percussion instruments. Looks like she’s a natural! (Photo: TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images)
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Stylish Arrival - Following her visit to Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist Temple in Kyoto, she jetted off to Siem Reap, Cambodia, arriving on Friday, March 20. She greeted Bun Rany, the first lady of Cambodia, in a pastel floral A-line dress and pewter kitten heels. (Photo: AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
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Making Moves - On March 21, Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Rany arrived at Hun Sen Bakorng High School, which has nearly 1,600 hundred students in grades 7-12. (Photo: AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
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Hug It Out - The first lady shared a sweet moment with Sohang Vean, a student at Hun Sen Bakorng High School. In a blog following Mrs. Obama’s travels, Sohang shared her personal story: “I have a dream of becoming a math teacher because I think that this career can help myself, my family and my community. To be able to study in grade 12 today, I have been through a lot of hardships. I know that I need to overcome them. I’ve never thought that they are the barrier to stop me. I’ve never thought of giving up because of the hardships. I never lose hope in myself.” (Photo: AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
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Making a Way - At the school, an organization called Room to Read runs a special scholarship program for girls who live far away. “Girls in remote parts of Cambodia often wind up dropping out of school because it’s too dangerous to travel to and from school each day or they just can’t afford the costs of transportation. But Room to Read provides girls with scholarships that cover the cost of housing, food and books, so they can live at the school and get their education,” Mrs. Obama wrote. (Photo: AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
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Leading the Discussion - She then attended the first Let Girls Learn training sessions for Peace Corps volunteers, local leaders, educators and students there in Cambodia. (Photo: TANG CHHIN SOTHY/AFP/Getty Images)
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Serving Our Communities - Speaking about the Let Girls Learn initiative, Mrs. Obama said in her remarks, “It’s about Peace Corp volunteers, community leaders, parents and girls themselves working side-by-side to help girls go to school, and, more importantly, to stay in school. The spirit of service that you all share, it’s contagious. It truly is. When you inspire the people you serve, they go on to inspire other people and when that happens, there is absolutely no limit to the impact that you can have and that we can have together.” (Photo: Nicolas Axelrod/Getty Images)
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Living History - Closing out her day, she visited Cambodia's Angkor Wat temple complex. Built in the early 12th century, it is renowned as the largest religious monument in the world. (Photo: AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)