Michelle Obama Arrives in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH—

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama arrived in Siem Reap province, Cambodia Friday, the next stop after her visit to Japan on her Asia tour to promote education for girls.

Cambodia is one of 11 countries to be targeted in the first year of Obama's "Let Girls Learn'' initiative, launched last summer through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The initiative aims to reduce the number of girls - 62 million worldwide - who do not attend school.

Michelle Obama arrived at Siem Reap International Airport. She was greeted by Cambodia first lady Bun Ranny Hun Sen, Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron, and the U.S ambassador. (Photo: Neou Vannarin for VOA)

Obama was greeted on Friday by Cambodia's first lady Bun Rany Hun Sen, who is set to join her and Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet to meet with high school students participating in community-led programs supporting education for girls.

Training event, roundtable 

Obama is then due to deliver remarks to Peace Corps volunteers participating in a girls' education training event and host a roundtable with local community leaders and civil society members, who are implementing projects to support girls' education in Cambodia.

Kim Dara heads the Cambodia office of World Education, a non-profit that works with the Ministry of Education to improve access to schooling.

Dara explained that girls in Cambodia face specific challenges. While most villages have primary schools close by, for example, secondary schools are often farther away. That can make travel to and from school dangerous for girls. Another important issue is the lack of latrines and washing facilities in many rural schools.

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