Malala Yousafzai meets with President Barack Obama and Family

Malala Yousafzai was honored to accept an invitation to meet with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House in Washington, D.C. this afternoon.

Malala and Mrs. Obama discussed their shared interest to provide more children with access to education around the world, particularly in disadvantaged communities. And, the importance of connecting girls everywhere to be powerful agents for change.

Following the meeting with Mrs. Obama, Malala joined President Obama in the Oval Office where he signed a declaration celebrating International Day of the Girl, and they discussed the importance of education, peace and women’s rights.

Malala commented: “It was a wonderful honor to meet with the Obamas today. I thanked President Obama for the United States’ work in supporting education in Pakistan and Afghanistan and for Syrian refugees. I also expressed my concerns that drone attacks are fueling terrorism. Innocent victims are killed in these acts, and they lead to resentment among the Pakistani people. If we refocus efforts on education it will make a big impact. There must be greater cooperation between the United States and Pakistan’s democratic government starting now with the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Only then will we ensure lasting peace.”

Malala is in the United States to share her story and raise the voices of girls everywhere through her new book, I Am Malala, and her work with Malala Fund.