Michelle Obama’s global education program for girls is apparently coming to an end.
MAIL & GUARDIAN 14 OCTOBER 2016
According to a report by CNN, President Donald Trump’s administration is discontinuing “Let Girls Learn,” the former first lady’s initiative to facilitate educational opportunities for girls in developing countries.
Michelle Obama launched “Let Girls Learn” in 2015 “to change the perception of the value of girls at the individual, community and institutional levels; foster an enabling environment for adolescent girls’ education; and engage and equip girls to make life decisions and important contributions to society,” the program website states.
Run primarily by the Peace Corps and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), “Let Girls Learn” drew on funding from the private and public sector to promote girls’ education in developing countries around the world. In its two years of existence, the program raised over $1 billion to help girls in over 50 countries.
CNN reported on Monday that it obtained an email, which Peace Corps acting director Sheila Crowley sent this week to inform employees that “Let Girls Learn” would be ending, though some elements of the program will continue.
“Moving forward, we will not continue to use the ‘Let Girls Learn’ brand or maintain a stand-alone program,” read the email.
A Peace Corps spokesperson told CNN that the agency will continue to prioritize programming for girls. “Girls’ education and empowerment has been a hallmark of our work over the past 56 years, and we look forward to continuing those efforts with our interagency partners,” the spokesperson said. “We remain dedicated to the passionate work of our volunteers and staff to empower and educate girls in their communities.”
Still, many Twitter users were outraged at the news that “Let Girls Learn” would be no more. Several directed their comments toward the first daughter and assistant to the president, Ivanka Trump, who has maintained throughout her father’s campaign and presidency that he supports women’s empowerment wholeheartedly.
Tchen also noted that President Barack Obama’s administration not only continued but expanded President George W. Bush’s global development program, The President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).