The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
A look back at the past week at the White House.
Google+ Hangout: The First Lady spent her Saturday morning at an online town hall in South Africa, connecting students in the United States with students there on a Google+ Hangout. Singer and songwriter John Legend and singer and actress Victoria Justice joined the Hangout from Los Angeles and Houston to discuss the importance of improving education.
Young African Leaders Initiative: President Obama traveled to the University of Johannesburg-Soweto on Saturday to attend a town hall with the Young African Leaders Initiative, a program launched in 2010 by President Obama to promote entrepreneurship and connect the young African leaders to their peers in the U.S.
While speaking to over 600 young leaders, President Obama made an exciting announcement – the expansion of the initiative into a new program that allows young Africans to study at American universities and colleges, the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.
We’ll focus on civic leadership and public administration and business and entrepreneurship, the skills you need to serve your communities and start and grow businesses and run effective ministries. And you’ll interact with Americans from all walks of life, because our citizens -- especially our young people -- can learn from you, too.
Robben Island: The First Family spent their Sunday visiting Robben Island, where activists working to end the Apartheid, including former President of South Africa of Nelson Mandela were imprisoned.
Arriving in Tanzania: After arriving in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania – the final stop of the Obama’s three-country trip to Africa – the President and the First Lady were welcomed by Tanzania’s President, Jakaya Kikwete and First Lady Mrs. Salma Kikwete. Following the arrival ceremony, the two leaders met for a bilateral meeting and then held a press conference.
Later, the President met with CEOs and business leaders for a roundtable and attended an official dinner with President Kikwete.
Baba wa Watoto: While President Obama was meeting with President Kikwete, the First Lady traveled to the National Museum to watch the Baba wa Watoto performance with her daughters. The Baba wa Watoto Center is a community organization that provides young people opportunities to succeed in school and in life – teaching students leadership, discipline, and skills applicable to every aspect of life.
African First Ladies Summit: First Lady Michelle Obama ended her trip to Tanzania by joining former First Lady Laura Bush and speaking at an African First Ladies Summit, “Investing in Women: Strengthening Africa.”
Visiting the Ubungo Symbion Power Plant: Just before boarding Air Force One to head back to the White House, President Obama stopped by the Ubungo Symbion Power Plant in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Here, the President introduced Power Africa, a new initiative that aims to double the number of people across Africa who have access to power.
It’s a win for Africans -- families get to electrify their homes; businesses can run their plants; investors can say if we locate in an African country, that they’re going to be able to power up in a reliable way. All this will make economies grow. It’s a win for the United States because the investments made here, including in cleaner energy, means more exports for the U.S. and more jobs in the U.S. And, obviously, a growing market in Africa will mean more opportunities for all countries.
Celebrating America's Birthday: More than 1,200 service members visited the White House on Thursday to celebrate the Fourth of July with the First Family and the Grammy Award winning band, fun..
President Obama honored the troops for their sacrifices, saying, "You, the fighting men and women of the United States, and those who came before you, you've played a special role. You defended our nation at home and abroad. You fought for our nation's beliefs, to make the world a better and safer place. People in scattered corners of the world live in peace today are free to write their own futures, because of you."
