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    June 21, 2011

First Lady Obama Begins 5-Day African Visit

   VOA News
   U.S. first lady Michelle Obama holds a bouquet of flowers as she stands
   with daughters Malia (R) and Sasha (L), draped in blankets given to
   them upon landing in Pretoria, South Africa, as they begin their week
   long visit to Africa, June 20, 2011
   Photo: Reuters
   U.S. first lady Michelle Obama holds a bouquet of flowers as she stands
   with daughters Malia (R) and Sasha (L), draped in blankets given to
   them upon landing in Pretoria, South Africa, as they begin their week
   long visit to Africa, June 20, 2011

   U.S. first lady Michelle Obama's nearly week long trip to Africa gets
   formally underway Tuesday as she heads to Johannesburg.
   She will visit the Nelson Mandela Foundation, where she will meet the
   former president's wife, Graca Machel, and tour South Africa's
   Apartheid Museum.
   The first lady and daughters Malia and Sasha arrived in Pretoria, South
   Africa Monday night. Obama's mother is also along on the trip.
   The first lady said she will encourage young Africans to become leaders
   in solving the continent's problems, such as poverty, disease and
   climate change. She also said she will highlight the importance of
   health and education.
   Obama plans to meet with South African President Jacob Zuma and
   Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
   She will also meet with groups fighting AIDS. Obama will speak to young
   women at a U.S.-sponsored forum focusing on social and economic
   initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa.
   She will close her trip with a two-day visit to Botswana.
   The Africa trip is Obama's second official overseas trip without her
   husband, following a visit to Mexico last year.

   Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

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