AUSTIN – U.S. First lady Michelle Obama visited the South By Southwest Music Festival on Wednesday to raise awareness about education access for girls around the globe. Last year, she and her husband launched Let Girls Learn, which is partly fueled by proceeds from the new song titled This Is For My Girls. Performers on the track were part of the discussion panel.

Michelle Obama told a crowd in a ballroom at the Austin Convention Center that 62 million girls around the world lack access to school or do not receive any education due to cultural reasons in nations where women are seen as subservient to their male counterparts.

The first lady mentioned her own efforts to achieve her goals in spite of the cruel comments from people who believed there was a long list of things she would not be able to accomplish. She said her reaction was to do everything she could to prove them wrong… And she did. Obama went on to graduate from Princeton University and Harvard Law School.

She said that taking action “starts with something that moves you personally. And to me, 62 million girls not getting an education, that’s personal.”

About Let Girls Learn

Let Girls Learn is a project in which the U.S. government works with other nations, businesses, and non-profit organizations to fund new efforts on education. There is even a social media campaign named #62MillionGirls and the website 62MillionGirls.com, which shows visitors how they can organize fundraising activities to raise money for the cause.

Obama pointed out that the improvement of global educational opportunities not only helps girls as individuals but also produces a huge impact on their communities. Educated women raise healthier children and earn more money to improve the well-being of their families. Besides, the gross domestic product of the nation increases when they value girls’ education.

Sales of This Is For My Girls on iTunes will benefit Let Girls Learn. The panel discussion at the festival included hip-hop artist Missy Elliot, who performs the songs alongside Kelly Clarkson, Janelle Monae, Zendaya and Chole & Halle. Songwriter Diane Warren also took part in the panel, which answered questions from viewers of an online stream and audience members.

The first lady reiterated that she will not run for president

When asked about the question of whether she would eventually run for president, she reiterated that it is not on her plans. She said one of the reasons she would not consider the idea is the fact that she takes into account the strain on the lives of her two daughters, but she suggested that she would continue to work on public service.

Source: USA Today