Obamas look at the future; stress on education & literacy

Even as the Obamas mean business on their maiden trip to India, they have not missed an opportunity to make a tryst with destiny and their future. They ensured in all the statements they made and the time they took out from the official programmes that the future lies with children and youth.

And that belief was driven by the First Lady, Michelle Obama. After she overwhelmed kids in Mumbai by her warmth, Michelle Obama will be spending time with nine young girls from New Delhi. The girls, aged between 9-11 years old, are supported by the Nanhi Kali initiative that helps underprivileged girl children get access to quality education.

“I think this is Mrs Obama’s way to show that she cares about education and understands how important it is for all children irrespective of their background whether they are privileged or under privileged,” said Sheetal Mehta executive director of K C Mahindra Education Trust (part of the Mahindra & Mahindra Group) which runs the Nanhi Kali initiative with its partner Naandi Foundation. The intiative provides academic and material support to over 60,000 underpriviliged girls across the country.

Michelle Obama, who has been bringing issues like child nutrition and health to the forefront back in her home turf, has left no opportunity to engage with kids and youth at various forums and every step of her itinerary.
She wooed the kids heart in Mumbai by dancing with them and urged college students’ to ask tough questions from her husband, the President of the United States. But what was obvious was the fact that education is close to her heart, which is the key message she has sent out through her engagements with the children.

No wonder, in her address to college students at Mumbai, she urged students to strive for “gigantic” dreams and told them how her parents taught her to be humble and put every last effort in education. “As First Lady, I try my best to engage young people not just in the US but around the world. We need them to solve the great challenges of our times,” she said.

At the Humayun’s tomb President Obama and the First Lady did not miss the opportunity to talk with kids of migrant labourers who work at the tomb and gave them gifts as they began the Delhi leg of their visit. On her first day of visit at Mumbai too, she met 32 disadvantaged children and 11 volunteers of “Make a Difference Foundation”, another non-profit organsation that is run by the youth and teaches these kids.

“She encouraged us and stressed on the importance of youth leadership and told the kids that education is very important in life. And how education has helped her to come where she is now,” said 24 year old Sujith Varkey who is one of the founding members of “Make a Difference “ initiative in India and personally met Mrs Obama with the kids.

Mrs Obama matched steps with children as she danced to the hit son from the Hindi film Rang De Basanti at the Mumbai University. The couple celebrated Diwali with students of Holy Name High School and joined them in a Maharastrian folk dance. It was a signal about a change that is on the anvil and a hope that the kids can protect.