U.S. First lady Michelle Obama introduced a new campaign focusing on education for girls, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai earned loud applause for her striking speech and Beyoncé was energetic during her live performance at the 2015 Global Citizen Festival.
Global Citizen Festival
Michelle Obama was among the high-profile figures at the Global Citizen Festival in New York Saturday. The annual event is aimed at ending poverty around the world. (Adam Hunger/Associated Press)
The multihour event held on the Great Lawn in New York’s Central Park also featured U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Hugh Jackman, Bono, Leonardo DiCaprio and Pearl Jam, who closed the event with a rocking performance.
Obama first appeared in a video promoting the 62 Million Girls campaign, but she later walked onstage after Beyoncé introduced her following her performance.
“Let’s give it up for the amazing Beyoncé,” Obama said.
“I am thrilled to be here tonight … and honoured to follow a woman who I admire and adore.”
Obama said she has travelled the world and met with young women who have not had a chance to receive an education. She asked the audience to tweet photos of themselves with the hashtag #62MillionGirls and say what you learned in school. Obama said she learned how to “speak up” in school.
“Right now 62 million girls are not in school … they deserve the same chances to get an education as my daughters and your daughters,” she told the feverish audience, who cheered her on.