President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle are launching a new initiative on a topic the president says is close to their hearts — girls' education.
"Let Girls Learn" is the new initiative with a goal of helping girls around the world go to school and stay in school.
The president, who announced the new program Saturday in his weekly address, said "right now, 62 million girls who should be in school, are not."
He said there are various reasons girls are not attending school, including "the risk of being hurt or kidnapped or even killed by men who will do anything to stop girls from learning, is just too great."
President Obama said any country that wants to partner with the U.S. in the Let Girls Learn initiative "needs to get serious about increasing the number of girls in school."
The U.S. leader said as the father of two daughters, "I know that there are lots of girls just like Malia and Sasha out there — girls who are funny and caring and inquisitive and strong, and have so much to offer the world."
