By Lauren Crothers
PHNOM PENH
Michelle Obama, the First Lady of the United States, has arrived in Cambodia on a three-day mission to promote an education initiative called “Let Girls Learn.”
She was greeted late Friday at the airport in Siem Reap—home to Cambodia’s famed Angkor Wat temple complex—by U.S. Ambassador William Todd and Bun Rany, the wife of long-time Prime Minister Hun Sen.
On Saturday, The Phnom Penh Post reported that Obama met with a group of female Cambodian students at Hun Sen Prasat Bakong High School, who spoke of the difficulties they have faced in trying to get a good-quality education.
“People told me I wasn't smart enough for college, law school. I ignored them. You must too,” the Post quoted Obama as saying during the meeting.
“I have two daughters your age; good to know women halfway around the world are just as smart and capable,” she added.
The report said Obama told the girls that they have potential, worth and value beyond domestic duties, and that they should strive to realize these by going to school.
According to a transcript of an on-the-record conversation released by the embassy earlier this week, Tina Tchen, Michelle Obama’s chief of staff said: “Cambodia will be one of the first 11 countries to be included in the Let Girls Learn Peace Corps program.”
Later Saturday, Obama is expected to meet with and deliver a speech to Peace Corps volunteers who are working in Cambodia.
In addition, the transcript also quoted Evan Medeiros - senior director for Asian affairs at the national security council - as saying that the speech would highlight “the importance of access to education for all—for both men and women as well as the importance of having access—equal access to economic opportunity.”
Obama would also have the opportunity to “meet with civil society to reinforce our view of the importance of having an open and inclusive political system to allow civil society to have a role in good governance,” Medeiros added.
