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Ms. Ogden: Okay.
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So our first question is
for Ms. Julia Gillard.
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Kawsara Chowdhury in year
13, where are you, please?
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Audience Member: Thank you.
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Hello, my name is
Kawsara Chowdhury.
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I'm in year 13 here at
Mulberry School for Girls.
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My question is
for Ms. Gillard.
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What do you think
communities can do on a
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local level to help girls'
access to education?
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Thank you.
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Ms. Gillard: Thank you so
much for that question, and
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what a delight to be here
and to listen to that
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fantastic speech.
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Thank you.
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And I've been energized
by all the squealing and
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screaming as you got to
greet the First Lady, so it
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really is a privilege
for me to be here.
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What can communities do?
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Well, we can inspire change
the way that the First Lady
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has spoken of.
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You can do that
individually, pairing up
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with girls around the world,
exchanging your life stories
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with their life stories.
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And then you can use that
energy to advocate for
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education globally, because
we've got so much more to do.
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On current trends, it will
take 100 years for us to see
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the first generation of
girls in Sub-Saharan Africa
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in the South Sudan who
actually get to go to all of
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primary school and lower
secondary school -- that
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every girl gets to go.
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Now, I don't want
to wait 100 years.
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I'm not going to be
here in 100 years.
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As young as you are, you're
not going to be here
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in 100 years.
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So our challenge is how to
change that timeframe so
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that it happens soon.
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And that's going to take
more advocacy to governments
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to do wonderful things like
you've heard the government
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of the United States, the
administration, and the
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government of the United
Kingdom announce today.
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It's going to take that
energy right around the
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world to get more
resources into education.
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It's going to take
the best of research.
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It's going to
take partnership.
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And that's what we do at
the Global Partnership for
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Education -- bring people to
work together in developing
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countries, governments,
donors, civil society,
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private philanthropy all
working together for change.
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So you're part
of that change.
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Take the first step -- find
someone to talk to whose
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life journey is different to
yours but maybe has some of
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the same challenges.
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And then band together in
groups to make sure your
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voice is heard.
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(applause)
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Mrs. Obama: Good advice.
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Ms. Ogden: Thank
you very much.
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So question two.
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This comes from a Peace
Corps volunteer and a
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student in Thailand.
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And the question is: "Mrs.
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Obama, students in Thailand
want to know, can this
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initiative benefit girls
who don't speak English?"
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Mrs. Obama: Oh, absolutely.
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I mean, this is a
global initiative.
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And it is targeted to every
girl in the world who wants
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an education and needs
the support to get it.
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So, as Julia said, we need
to band together to find
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each other out
there in the world.
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And we were talking during
the panel earlier today that
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social media can be a
powerful tool to
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make that happen.
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That is the key -- I think
it's going to be the key to
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reaching out to girls
all around the world.
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And there will be no bigger
role models for those girls
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than you all.
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I can give speeches and
Julia can do amazing things,
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but so often, young girls
need to see themselves in
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the people who are
giving them advice.
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And right now, you're the
closest generation to many
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of the girls that
need that work.
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So I can't overemphasize how
important it is for you all
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to find ways to do that
outreach, to band together
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and to start having these
conversations and find ways
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to mentor other girls who do
not have the resources that
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you all have.
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So get to work.
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(applause)
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Ms. Ogden: Thank
you very much.
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So the next question
is from the floor.
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It's for the First Lady, and
it is Aisha Samad in year 13.
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Where are you, Aisha?
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Audience Member: Hi.
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My question is, what is the
inspiration behind the Let
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Girls Learn campaign?
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Mrs. Obama: Oh, it's you.
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Didn't you notice
how I almost cried?
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I couldn't get
through my speech.
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It's you.
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It's your soul,
it's your passion.
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And there are -- I can't
tell you how many times I
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interact with young girls
like you in every part of
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the world.
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And I am always in awe of
what you're able to do, what
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you're able to push through,
and how hungry you are for
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your education; that when
given the tools and the
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opportunity,
you run with it.
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And as I said in my remarks,
I just think about how much
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we're losing when we don't
tap into that energy; that
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there are 62 million girls
out there who are just as
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bright, just as impactful
potentially, just as
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passionate, but who have no
voice, no opportunity, no
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resources to develop into
the young women that you all
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will be.
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And we just can't afford to
lose out on that kind of talent.
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We have too much work to
do on this planet -- from
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global change to creating
peace around the world to
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ensuring that our children
are healthy and thriving,
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physically and emotionally
-- we have work to do.
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So we need every able body
educated and ready to do
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that work.
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And you all are the
leaders of tomorrow.
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You will do this work.
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I can just tell in the way
that you carry yourselves
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and your confidence, the way
you look me in the eye and
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other people -- that you
have what it takes
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inside of you.
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That inspires me.
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That makes me think, through
these partnerships, we can
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figure this out.
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And if we have an army of
other young women like you
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out there growing up and
getting your education and
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joining the battle, we're
going to conquer this.
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And we're not going
to do it in 100 years.
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We can't afford
to wait that long.
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But we need other partners.
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We need other countries to
step up, particularly the
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leadership in
developing countries.
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We need them to
prioritize this issue.
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And we're going to have to
keep speaking out about it
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and creating that drumbeat
for it, but this is a good
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window of opportunity --
when the world is focused on
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this issue, and in a way
that I don't think they've
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ever been before.
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So we've got to take
advantage of it.
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And hopefully you all
completing your educations
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and continuing them
afterwards -- and that
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you're going to be ready
to join the battle, okay?
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(applause)
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Ms. Ogden: Thank you.
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And I think we certainly are
ready to get behind you.
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Mrs. Obama, one of your
@FLOTUS Twitter followers --
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if I could just explain,
FLOTUS means First Lady of
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the United States.
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(laughter)
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Which is something -- it
took us a little while to
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work out.
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So, Mrs. Obama, one of your
@FLOTUS Twitter followers
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asked, "Let Girls
Learn is a U.S.
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initiative, yet the lack
of girls in education is a
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global issue.
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How can people worldwide
help get girls in school?"
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Mrs. Obama: Well, I think
Julia mentioned this, it's
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going to take all
types of partnerships.
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It's going to take
government stepping up,
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putting the resources,
making a priority.
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It's going to take NGOs that
are focused on the ground,
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coordinating, collaborating
so that we're not
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duplicating efforts; that
we're finding best practices
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and we're implementing those
solutions on a larger scale.
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It's going to take good
research, because we need to
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know that what we're doing
is actually working.
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And it's going to take young
people like all of you doing
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the job of getting the
education and sticking to it
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regardless of what voices
you hear in your head, what
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doubts people put on your
minds -- that you keep this
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up, that you know that this
is your key to the life of
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your dreams; that education
is first and foremost.
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But it's going to
take that drumbeat.
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And we've got to change
cultural norms too.
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That's why the work on the
ground is so important.
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We've got to send different
messages about the
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importance of
educating our girls.
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Our sons are important.
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We love men -- we all do.
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They're good.
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They're useful.
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(laughter)
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I have one in my life.
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I like him.
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(laughter)
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But we have to change the
definition of what it means
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to invest in
our young girls.
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And we need young men out
there supporting that as well.
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I think Prince Harry
actually mentioned this --
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he said it's important to
have male voices at the
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table on this issue, because
oftentimes it's going to be
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the brother or the father
in a community speaking up
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that's going to change the
way a community responds to
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the challenge of getting
girls in school.
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Julia, please.
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I know you have
more to say on this.
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Ms. Gillard: Thank
you very much.
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I mean, I think a very
practical thing to do in the
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months ahead -- and I agree
very much with Mrs. Obama
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that there's a global moment
now for girls' education.
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And it's being borne of
tragedy, being borne of the
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shooting of Malala, and the
world focused, and then the
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kidnapping of the Nigerian
schoolgirls, and the
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world focused.
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And I think we all thought
to ourselves, if these girls
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can show so much bravery to
try and get an education,
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surely we can do more.
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And in the United Nations in
September this year, global
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leaders will come together,
and it seems quite likely
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that they will endorse an
ambitious new vision for
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education to try and achieve
by 2030 -- that every child,
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girls and boys around
the world, get to go to
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pre-primary school and
primary school, and on into
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secondary school.
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I think we should be saying
to global leaders, we share
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that vision but we also want
to make sure that you're
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stepping up for the
resources and the
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partnerships and the
advocacy that will make
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those words, that new
Sustainable Development Goal
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come true.
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And I know what it's like
to be a government leader.
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I was Prime Minister
in Australia.
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What you hear from your
citizens, what they
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galvanize around, what they
mobilize around, it does matter.
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So if you're loud, your
political leaders will hear it.
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If girls around the world
are loud, then the world's
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leaders will hear it.
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And we need that energy to
propel what I think will be
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a good vision
into a reality.
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(applause)
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Ms. Ogden: Thank you.
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Okay, so I hear there --
about the importance of
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community and
on-the-ground involvement.
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So the next question,
perhaps for both of you,
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perhaps the First Lady first
-- Farha Uddin, year 11.
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Where are you, Farhar?
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Audience Member: I'm here.
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Morning.
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I'd just like to ask both of
you, what difference do you
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think it would make in the
world if all girls
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had an education?
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Thank you.
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Mrs. Obama: Well, we know
from the research that girls
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who are educated turn into
women who raise
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healthier children.
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Infant mortality rates drop.
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Wages go up.
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Communities are stronger.
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Villages are stronger.
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Nations are stronger.
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It has a direct economic
impact on our global economy.
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That's another reason why
this issue is so important.
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We know those numbers.
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So it's hard to
argue with the facts.
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But, Julia, I know you know
more of those facts as well.
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Ms. Gillard: The First
Lady is absolutely right.
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We know from the research
that if we enable girls to
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become literate, that they
would lead healthier lives.
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Their children would be
more likely to survive from
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infanthood into adulthood.
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We know that economic
development is correlated
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with girls' education;
that nations become more
269
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prosperous if they
educate their girls.
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00:13:05,484 --> 00:13:08,154
And there's also good
evidence that educated
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communities, including
educated girls, are more
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likely to be communities
that become peaceful and
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stable -- and don't we need
that so much in our world
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as well.
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So the research is there.
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But I think you just know
in your heart that if you
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believe, as I do, that merit
is equally distributed
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00:13:28,574 --> 00:13:33,614
between the sexes, why would
we not want to have the best
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of the world's talent
available to participate in
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building the world's future?
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00:13:38,717 --> 00:13:42,687
And if we hold any girls
back, then we are denying
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our world the
talent it needs.
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00:13:44,957 --> 00:13:49,997
So this is morally right as
well provable economically
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that it's a great investment
for the future of the world.
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(applause)
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00:14:00,139 --> 00:14:02,009
Ms. Ogden: Absolutely.
287
00:14:02,007 --> 00:14:04,577
There's a question now
that's a bit more personal.
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00:14:04,577 --> 00:14:07,917
And Sujina Khatun in year
13, where are you, please?
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00:14:07,913 --> 00:14:09,013
Audience Member: Hi.
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00:14:09,014 --> 00:14:13,924
I'm Sujina Khatun.
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I'm in year 13.
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00:14:14,954 --> 00:14:17,254
And I'd just like to start
off by thanking you both for
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being here today.
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It means so much to not just
the girls who are standing
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here, but for our
whole community.
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00:14:22,528 --> 00:14:25,398
So my question is, I aspire
to be a lawyer -- what
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00:14:25,397 --> 00:14:27,567
advice would you give to me
and other young women who
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00:14:27,566 --> 00:14:29,006
are pursuing this career?
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00:14:29,001 --> 00:14:33,271
Thank you.
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00:14:33,272 --> 00:14:35,112
Ms. Gillard: Well, first
and foremost, study hard,
301
00:14:35,107 --> 00:14:37,877
because it's so competitive
to get into law today.
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00:14:37,876 --> 00:14:40,976
One of the things I've done
post-politics is I've become
303
00:14:40,980 --> 00:14:44,120
an honorary professor at the
university where I started
304
00:14:44,116 --> 00:14:45,116
my law degree.
305
00:14:45,117 --> 00:14:48,657
And honestly, I look at the
scores that kids need to get
306
00:14:48,654 --> 00:14:51,194
into law school and I think,
if I was a student today I
307
00:14:51,190 --> 00:14:52,320
wouldn't make it.
308
00:14:52,324 --> 00:14:53,324
(laughter)
309
00:14:53,325 --> 00:14:55,695
I'm so glad I'm from
an earlier generation.
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So really, study hard.
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00:14:56,695 --> 00:14:59,665
But when you get there --
and I'm very confident you
312
00:14:59,665 --> 00:15:09,005
will -- when you get there,
law is really a name for
313
00:15:09,008 --> 00:15:11,978
many subjects and many
skills and many
314
00:15:11,977 --> 00:15:13,647
different pathways.
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00:15:13,646 --> 00:15:16,316
And I would say
explore it all.
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00:15:16,315 --> 00:15:21,085
I graduated as a lawyer, but
my career has taken me in
317
00:15:21,086 --> 00:15:24,186
different directions -- into
politics, into parliament,
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00:15:24,189 --> 00:15:26,489
into the place
that laws are made.
319
00:15:26,492 --> 00:15:29,132
I met so many people around
the world who studied law
320
00:15:29,128 --> 00:15:31,698
degrees but then went
on to other things.
321
00:15:31,697 --> 00:15:34,797
So it's a great
mind-expanding and
322
00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:36,900
enabling qualification.
323
00:15:36,902 --> 00:15:39,602
So absolutely go for it.
324
00:15:39,605 --> 00:15:41,075
Mrs. Obama: I
completely agree.
325
00:15:41,073 --> 00:15:45,543
I mean, I practiced law for
two years after law school
326
00:15:45,544 --> 00:15:49,214
and immediately sort of
launched off into other things.
327
00:15:49,214 --> 00:15:51,154
I worked in city government.
328
00:15:51,150 --> 00:15:53,150
I was an assistant
to the mayor.
329
00:15:53,152 --> 00:15:58,522
I was the assistant to the
head of economic development
330
00:15:58,524 --> 00:15:59,524
and planning.
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00:15:59,525 --> 00:16:02,665
I ran a non-profit
organization working with
332
00:16:02,661 --> 00:16:04,931
young adults who were
pursuing careers in
333
00:16:04,930 --> 00:16:05,930
public service.
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00:16:05,931 --> 00:16:08,531
I was a vice president of a
hospital -- on and on and on.
335
00:16:08,534 --> 00:16:14,344
And I can say that my
ability to transition so
336
00:16:14,340 --> 00:16:17,580
seamlessly into these
different careers was really
337
00:16:17,576 --> 00:16:20,676
because of the foundation
that I got in law school.
338
00:16:20,679 --> 00:16:24,379
I mean, in law -- anywhere
you go, whatever you study
339
00:16:24,383 --> 00:16:27,123
-- because there are many
careers and many degrees to
340
00:16:27,119 --> 00:16:29,319
get -- but the foundation
that you want to have -- you
341
00:16:29,321 --> 00:16:33,661
want to have a foundation,
a strong foundation in
342
00:16:33,659 --> 00:16:37,599
writing, being able to
communicate your thoughts
343
00:16:37,596 --> 00:16:41,066
and feelings analytically,
neatly, in writing.
344
00:16:41,066 --> 00:16:43,506
So you can't overestimate
the importance.
345
00:16:43,502 --> 00:16:46,772
So if your teachers here are
drilling you and they're
346
00:16:46,772 --> 00:16:49,612
making you write papers
again and again and again
347
00:16:49,608 --> 00:16:50,908
and you can't stand it -
348
00:16:50,909 --> 00:16:52,609
(laughter)
349
00:16:52,611 --> 00:16:54,081
- I'm sorry, but
it's good for you.
350
00:16:54,079 --> 00:16:55,349
(laughter)
351
00:16:55,347 --> 00:16:57,587
You will thank them later.
352
00:16:57,583 --> 00:17:02,423
And being comfortable
communicating orally, just
353
00:17:02,421 --> 00:17:05,191
standing up and being able
to make your case -- I mean,
354
00:17:05,190 --> 00:17:08,330
that's what a law training
provides for you.
355
00:17:08,327 --> 00:17:10,827
And you'll find that you'll
use those skills in anything
356
00:17:10,829 --> 00:17:12,869
that you want to do.
357
00:17:12,865 --> 00:17:15,365
But as Julia said,
it's hard work.
358
00:17:15,367 --> 00:17:17,867
And that's not anything
that's foreign to any of
359
00:17:17,870 --> 00:17:19,300
you, hard work.
360
00:17:19,304 --> 00:17:22,704
And it can be expensive.
361
00:17:22,708 --> 00:17:25,748
I know in the United States
a law degree is an expensive
362
00:17:25,744 --> 00:17:28,484
degree to get if you
don't get a scholarship.
363
00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:30,150
So I encourage
students in the U.S.
364
00:17:30,149 --> 00:17:33,519
to make sure they understand
that financial commitment,
365
00:17:33,519 --> 00:17:36,389
and what they want to do
with it, so that in the end
366
00:17:36,388 --> 00:17:39,128
of school they're not
riddled with debt, that
367
00:17:39,124 --> 00:17:42,524
they're not overburdened by
debt and then they can't
368
00:17:42,528 --> 00:17:46,368
afford to do the good work
that they want to do.
369
00:17:46,365 --> 00:17:49,005
So you have to be an
informed consumer when it
370
00:17:49,001 --> 00:17:52,501
comes to investing in an
expensive degree like that.
371
00:17:52,504 --> 00:17:54,244
But it's well worth it.
372
00:17:54,239 --> 00:17:56,379
But I encourage you all,
again, that there are so
373
00:17:56,375 --> 00:18:00,115
many -- we need so --
we need scientists.
374
00:18:00,112 --> 00:18:00,942
We need teachers.
375
00:18:00,946 --> 00:18:02,346
We need social workers.
376
00:18:02,347 --> 00:18:06,087
We need astronauts.
377
00:18:06,084 --> 00:18:08,354
We need it all.
378
00:18:08,353 --> 00:18:12,663
And that's the beauty of the
world we live in today --
379
00:18:12,658 --> 00:18:14,458
there are so many
opportunities out there, and
380
00:18:14,460 --> 00:18:16,500
that's why we can't afford
to have half of our
381
00:18:16,495 --> 00:18:20,795
population not have the
education they need to step
382
00:18:20,799 --> 00:18:23,039
into these careers.
383
00:18:23,035 --> 00:18:26,005
And government, I --
public service, I can't
384
00:18:26,004 --> 00:18:29,574
overestimate how important
that is -- that no matter
385
00:18:29,575 --> 00:18:33,315
what you do, I hope that all
of you remember that giving
386
00:18:33,312 --> 00:18:36,282
back is really our
reason for breathing.
387
00:18:36,281 --> 00:18:40,181
As Marian Wright Edelman,
one of my heroes, has said,
388
00:18:40,185 --> 00:18:43,155
service is the rent
we pay for living.
389
00:18:43,155 --> 00:18:48,065
And at the core of whatever
you do, I hope that you find
390
00:18:48,060 --> 00:18:51,160
an opportunity to give back
to your communities and to
391
00:18:51,163 --> 00:18:56,103
your families as you
rise professionally.
392
00:18:56,101 --> 00:18:57,031
(applause)
393
00:18:57,035 --> 00:19:04,245
Ms. Ogden: Thank
you very much.
394
00:19:04,243 --> 00:19:07,543
And we only have time for
one more question, so
395
00:19:07,546 --> 00:19:10,086
Thasneem Zaman in year 13.
396
00:19:10,082 --> 00:19:12,252
Audience Member: Hi.
397
00:19:12,251 --> 00:19:15,151
So my name is Thasneem Zaman
and I'm from Mulberry School
398
00:19:15,153 --> 00:19:15,783
for Girls.
399
00:19:15,787 --> 00:19:17,527
And my question is, what
do you think makes a good
400
00:19:17,523 --> 00:19:19,393
education for a girl
growing up today?
401
00:19:19,391 --> 00:19:23,931
Thank you.
402
00:19:23,929 --> 00:19:26,569
Ms. Gillard: I feel like
we're in the presence of the
403
00:19:26,565 --> 00:19:30,465
world's best expert,
so I'm worried.
404
00:19:30,469 --> 00:19:35,939
(applause)
405
00:19:35,941 --> 00:19:38,511
I'm worried we're going to
offer our views and then get
406
00:19:38,510 --> 00:19:41,410
a score out of 10 and
maybe it's not so hot.
407
00:19:41,413 --> 00:19:44,883
But I think the First
Lady is absolutely right.
408
00:19:44,883 --> 00:19:48,023
The foundation stones,
as you know -- literacy,
409
00:19:48,020 --> 00:19:50,690
numeracy, being able to
express yourself -- having
410
00:19:50,689 --> 00:19:53,959
all those tools at your
fingertips -- important for
411
00:19:53,959 --> 00:19:55,799
the rest of your life.
412
00:19:55,794 --> 00:19:59,664
But beyond that, I think
it's giving you the
413
00:19:59,665 --> 00:20:05,335
self-confidence to know that
you can try and succeed;
414
00:20:05,337 --> 00:20:08,777
that you can sometimes try
and fail, and learn from
415
00:20:08,774 --> 00:20:09,774
that failure.
416
00:20:09,775 --> 00:20:12,815
Life is full of ups and
downs; some of them we
417
00:20:12,811 --> 00:20:16,111
self-create because we make
a mistake, sometimes life
418
00:20:16,114 --> 00:20:19,314
just deals you a
more difficult hand.
419
00:20:19,318 --> 00:20:22,518
I would like to think that
girls coming from this
420
00:20:22,521 --> 00:20:25,721
school -- and really, you
can feel it in the energy in
421
00:20:25,724 --> 00:20:28,994
the room -- you're coming
out not only with a set of
422
00:20:28,994 --> 00:20:32,364
practical skills, but
with a resilience and a
423
00:20:32,364 --> 00:20:35,464
predisposition to be able
to make the most of life's
424
00:20:35,467 --> 00:20:39,407
chances to define your own
options and choices -- but
425
00:20:39,404 --> 00:20:44,214
also to be able to overcome
the setbacks; to have that
426
00:20:44,209 --> 00:20:46,649
inside you that still
centers you when things
427
00:20:46,645 --> 00:20:48,085
aren't going your way.
428
00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:50,580
So you pick yourself up
and keep going forward.
429
00:20:50,582 --> 00:20:54,952
I think that is the sort
of hallmark of a great
430
00:20:54,953 --> 00:20:57,823
education, because it
carries you through the rest
431
00:20:57,823 --> 00:21:00,163
of life's journey.
432
00:21:00,158 --> 00:21:05,728
Mrs. Obama: And you can't
underestimate the importance
433
00:21:05,731 --> 00:21:07,901
of resilience.
434
00:21:07,899 --> 00:21:10,799
One of the messages that I
tell to young people in the
435
00:21:10,802 --> 00:21:16,012
United States is the trials
and tribulations that you
436
00:21:16,008 --> 00:21:19,748
have in life may be great,
but when you -- getting
437
00:21:19,745 --> 00:21:22,545
through them is the real,
ultimate challenge.
438
00:21:22,547 --> 00:21:23,987
That's what life is.
439
00:21:23,982 --> 00:21:27,182
I mean, I tell my kids this
all the time -- it's easy to
440
00:21:27,185 --> 00:21:28,185
get A's.
441
00:21:28,186 --> 00:21:30,456
You don't have to
figure that out.
442
00:21:30,455 --> 00:21:32,525
You don't have to
get used to that.
443
00:21:32,524 --> 00:21:34,764
My question is what
happens when you fail?
444
00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,630
When you get that grade --
when you work as hard as you
445
00:21:37,629 --> 00:21:41,169
can and you don't reach
your goal, what do you do?
446
00:21:41,166 --> 00:21:42,736
Do you fall apart?
447
00:21:42,734 --> 00:21:43,934
Do you quit?
448
00:21:43,935 --> 00:21:46,605
Do you beat yourself up?
449
00:21:46,605 --> 00:21:50,245
Or do you get up and keep
working a little bit harder?
450
00:21:50,242 --> 00:21:52,512
That's what success is.
451
00:21:52,511 --> 00:21:57,051
That is the ultimate quality
of a successful person --
452
00:21:57,049 --> 00:21:58,249
it's resilience.
453
00:21:58,250 --> 00:22:01,820
It's the ability to
overcome obstacles.
454
00:22:01,820 --> 00:22:09,430
So take those challenges
that you're facing and own
455
00:22:09,428 --> 00:22:12,868
them, and embrace them,
and understand that with
456
00:22:12,864 --> 00:22:15,934
everything you overcome,
you're becoming stronger and
457
00:22:15,934 --> 00:22:20,804
better and more
ready for the world.
458
00:22:20,806 --> 00:22:23,576
The other thing I would urge
you to do as part of your
459
00:22:23,575 --> 00:22:29,445
education is don't just be
book smart, be smart about
460
00:22:29,448 --> 00:22:31,288
the world.
461
00:22:31,283 --> 00:22:32,953
Know your community.
462
00:22:32,951 --> 00:22:35,451
Understand your politics.
463
00:22:35,454 --> 00:22:37,794
Read your papers.
464
00:22:37,789 --> 00:22:39,829
Know what's happening
in the world.
465
00:22:39,825 --> 00:22:42,595
I say this to
students in the U.S.
466
00:22:42,594 --> 00:22:46,494
all the time -- you have to
know how your government works.
467
00:22:46,498 --> 00:22:49,268
And you have to vote and
be actively engaged at all
468
00:22:49,267 --> 00:22:51,267
times -- that's part
of an education.
469
00:22:51,269 --> 00:22:54,539
Because it's not enough to
want change if you don't
470
00:22:54,539 --> 00:22:56,839
know how to effect
change where you live.
471
00:22:56,842 --> 00:22:59,942
And that's understanding the
power structure that you
472
00:22:59,945 --> 00:23:01,815
live in and how it works.
473
00:23:01,813 --> 00:23:03,783
What does parliament decide?
474
00:23:03,782 --> 00:23:06,082
What does the President of
the United States do versus
475
00:23:06,084 --> 00:23:07,084
the Congress?
476
00:23:07,085 --> 00:23:09,355
What happens at the state
level in the United States?
477
00:23:09,354 --> 00:23:13,124
How is that different from
what happens at the local level?
478
00:23:13,125 --> 00:23:16,795
What does it matter who your
school district head is?
479
00:23:16,795 --> 00:23:17,825
It all matters.
480
00:23:17,829 --> 00:23:20,469
And you have to understand
why it matters, because it's
481
00:23:20,465 --> 00:23:25,735
that understanding and
respect for power that
482
00:23:25,737 --> 00:23:27,107
really does make change.
483
00:23:27,105 --> 00:23:30,375
And I think that too many
young people think, oh,
484
00:23:30,375 --> 00:23:34,715
politics, government, oh,
that's them -- it's us.
485
00:23:34,713 --> 00:23:37,483
It's how the world works.
486
00:23:37,482 --> 00:23:43,392
So you have to be informed
and engaged all the time --
487
00:23:43,388 --> 00:23:45,958
not once in a while, not
just when it interests you
488
00:23:45,957 --> 00:23:48,427
or when it feels cool, or
you like the person who's
489
00:23:48,426 --> 00:23:50,896
running, or it
speaks to you.
490
00:23:50,896 --> 00:23:52,966
You have to be
involved all the time.
491
00:23:52,964 --> 00:23:57,234
And young women, we have to
be involved in politics.
492
00:23:57,235 --> 00:23:58,275
We do.
493
00:23:58,270 --> 00:24:00,310
We can't shy away
from that piece of it.
494
00:24:00,305 --> 00:24:03,205
So I think that that's a
crucial part of thinking
495
00:24:03,208 --> 00:24:05,208
about your education
and thinking about your
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00:24:05,210 --> 00:24:10,550
development as
a whole person.
497
00:24:10,549 --> 00:24:11,019
(applause)
498
00:24:11,016 --> 00:24:18,486
Ms. Ogden: Just
fantastic, thank you.
499
00:24:18,490 --> 00:24:21,360
Well, thank you for all your
questions from the floor.
500
00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:23,299
And I know we've had a lot
of Twitter feed, and I'm
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00:24:23,295 --> 00:24:26,235
sure that will continue, so
thank you to those that have
502
00:24:26,231 --> 00:24:28,231
been sending that in.
503
00:24:28,233 --> 00:24:30,433
And I would just like
to thank you both.
504
00:24:30,435 --> 00:24:33,475
I'd like to thank you, First
Lady, and Ms. Gillard, for
505
00:24:33,471 --> 00:24:36,411
an inspiring conversation
here this morning.
506
00:24:36,408 --> 00:24:40,878
But I also want to say this
-- a very personal thanks to
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00:24:40,879 --> 00:24:42,879
you for the things
that you said.
508
00:24:42,881 --> 00:24:45,881
I know that our students
and our community feel
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00:24:45,884 --> 00:24:49,024
enormously valued and
privileged with your visit
510
00:24:49,020 --> 00:24:50,020
here today.
511
00:24:50,021 --> 00:24:53,291
But you've also issued us
with a challenge -- and we
512
00:24:53,291 --> 00:24:58,131
like challenges at Mulberry
-- one that has a compelling
513
00:24:58,129 --> 00:25:01,269
social and economic case for
the universal
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00:25:01,266 --> 00:25:02,636
education of girls.
515
00:25:02,634 --> 00:25:06,504
And for me, there is also a
moral imperative with this.
516
00:25:06,504 --> 00:25:10,174
So our deep thanks here at
Mulberry for drawing the
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00:25:10,175 --> 00:25:12,915
world's attention to this
issue, and for coming to us
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00:25:12,911 --> 00:25:15,751
today to launch your
campaign here in the United
519
00:25:15,747 --> 00:25:18,817
Kingdom, and for
your remarks to us.
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00:25:18,817 --> 00:25:20,957
So, Mulberry School -- and
I'd like to hear this from
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00:25:20,952 --> 00:25:24,092
the Sports Hall as well --
and our guests -- this is my
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00:25:24,089 --> 00:25:26,529
challenge -- please join me
in showing our heartfelt
523
00:25:26,524 --> 00:25:28,864
appreciation to
the First Lady.
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00:25:28,860 --> 00:25:32,330
(applause)
