Our Progress

On International Day of the Girl, the White House releases a comprehensive strategy outlining the benefits of investing in adolescent girls’ education, and Let Girls Learn announces the equivalent of more than five million dollars in new private sector commitments to help address the barriers that prevent adolescent girls from attaining an education.

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The Peace Corps announces the expansion of Peace Corps’ Let Girls Learn Program to nine additional countries in the next year, bringing the total number of Peace Corps countries participating to 44.

October 11, 2016

During his historic visit to Laos, President Obama announces Laos and Nepal as the newest Let Girls Learn Challenge Fund Countries. Read his remarks here.

September 6, 2016

At the Girls’ Education Forum in London, USAID announces a commitment of $25 million through Let Girls Learn to help sustain a teacher apprenticeship program in Afghanistan for adolescent girls, as part of a new partnership with the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) Girls Education Challenge.

July 7, 2016

First Lady Michelle Obama, accompanied by actresses Meryl Streep and Freida Pinto, travels to Liberia and Morocco to announce new commitments to Let Girls Learn. Read her travel blog on HelloGiggles.

June 29, 2016

At the United State of Women Summit Dinner, the First Lady announces additional commitments to Let Girls Learn from CARE, American Airlines, AOL and others.

June 14, 2016

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim announces at the World Bank Group Spring Meetings that the World Bank Group would invest $2.5 billion over the next five years in education projects that directly benefit adolescent girls. The announcement also included commitments from India, Rwanda, and Ghana to further invest in adolescent girls’ education.

April 13, 2016

At the South by Southwest 2016 Music Festival, First Lady Michelle Obama launches a song written by Diane Warren and featuring Lea Michele, Kelly Clarkson, Missy Elliott, Zendaya, Janelle Monáe,, Kelly Rowland, Jadagrace, and Chloe x Halle, titled “This is for My Girls”. All of the song’s proceeds will support the Peace Corps’ Let Girls Learn Fund.

March 16, 2016

Secretary Kerry launches the first United States Global Strategy to Empower Adolescent Girls.

March 15, 2016

As part of International Women’s Day, First Lady Michelle Obama announces a new set of commitments from private companies to support adolescent girls’ education. These commitments build upon the commitments announced at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit.

March 8, 2016

The Peace Corps announces the expansion of Let Girls Learn programming to 35 countries.

March 2, 2016

USAID announces the construction of 25 new public schools in Jordan – 70% of which will be girls schools. The new, modern school buildings will accommodate 25,000 students each year, helping to alleviate overcrowded classrooms caused by the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis.

November 8, 2015

USAID announces a new commitment in coordination with the Government of Pakistan to advance girls’ education in Pakistan. As part of Let Girls Learn, USAID will provide $70 million in new and ongoing programs that benefit more than 200,000 adolescent girls aged 10-19.

October 22, 2015

First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit, an annual convening of the preeminent women in business, government, philanthropy, education, and the arts, where she announces a new set of commitments from a variety of organizations.

October 13, 2015

President Obama travels to Africa where he announces new efforts in Tanzania and Malawi through USAID and the Department of State to empower adolescent girls, as well as the Let Girls Learn Challenge Fund to convene the global community to co-design solutions to help adolescent girls succeed in school.

July 31, 2015

The U.S. government announces $200 million for girl’s camps and community projects around the world, including $180 million partnership between the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development and USAID in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to benefit more than 750,000 adolescent girls.

June 16, 2015

First Lady Michelle Obama travels to Japan and announces a new partnership with the United States to help girls attend school globally. Japan will provide $340 million for empowerment and gender-sensitive education programs, and the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers will work with the Peace Corps on educating girls.

March 18, 2015

Let Girls Learn launches at the White House, with support from President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. The Peace Corps announces 11 initial Let Girls Learn countries and creates the Peace Corps Let Girls Learn Fund to support community-led girls education projects implemented by Peace Corps Volunteers.

March 3, 2015