The Obama women visited Liberia this past Monday to bring attention to the country’s rising dropout rates for girls following an Ebola outbreak. Schools were forced to close for months and students remained home due to the panic. Now, there’s a growing concern that their education has been stunted.

“This trip will allow the first lady to reach directly to publics of three important U.S. partners and talk about an issue that is important to all of us: The education of girls, and the empowerment of women and girls more broadly,” said Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser, according to CNN.

When Obama landed, her office announced that USAID plans to dedicate $27 million to Liberia’s educational programs while expanding the “Let Girls Learn” program by adding new trainees and volunteers. The program will invest money in schools which have been affected by the epidemic. This trip will also land the Obamas in Morocco and Spain as they promote the initiative.

While in Liberia, the First Lady will meet with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first elected head of state in Africa as they share their passion for education. Hopefully, this trip will mean that the Obama family’s star power can get some of these schools reopened.

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