Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia kicked off their African tour this week, stopping in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, where they met with King Mohammed VI's wife Princess Lalla Salma.
After spending the day promoting education in Africa at a leadership camp for girls in Liberia, the first lady, Malia, 18, and 15-year-old Sasha were greeted by Princess Lalla Salma at Menara Airport on Monday evening.
© Photo: Getty ImagesPrincess Lalla greeted the Obamas as they arrived in Morocco
The aim of Michelle's trip is to tackle the exclusion of girls in education worldwide. During a talk for US initiative Let Girls Learn, she said: "We will emerge together as a group of women to tackle this exclusion."
It is thought that an estimated 62 million girls around the world are denied the right to an education – something Michelle is determined to change.
© Photo: Getty ImagesMichelle Obama was there to encourage young girls to stay in school
After telling the girls in Marrakech she was "thrilled" to be with them, Michelle insisted: "I'm here to shine a big bright light on you."
The visit to Africa is an important and much-needed one. Following the civil wars between 1989 and 2003, and the Ebola epidemic two years ago, many schools were shut. But, in conjunction with Michelle's tour, USAID has pledged to donate up to $27million to the Let Girls Learn programme.
The first lady "will highlight commitments made by the US government through the Millennium Challenge Corporation and USAID in partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco to help adolescent girls in Morocco go to school and stay in school".
