Michelle Obama inspires young people in South Africa

The First Lady, who is on a trip to South Africa with her mother and two daughters, delivered a passionate speech to young people in a church in Soweto, telling them not to stand by when others suffered.

Michelle Obama urged her audience to tackle injustice and prejudice across issues including race, discrimination, democracy, development and HIV.

Speaking at the Regina Mundi Church, which played a role in South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement, Mrs Obama told the young people that the world was looking to Africa.

There are still so many causes worth sacrificing for. There is still so much history yet to be made. Michelle Obama

“As you hear the stories of lions like Madiba [Nelson Mandela]…you may think that you can never measure up to such greatness. But while today’s challenges might not always inspire the lofty rhetoric or high drama of struggles past, the injustices at hand are no less glaring, the human suffering no less acute.

“So make no mistake about it there are still so many causes worth sacrificing for. There is still so much history yet to be made,” she said.

She urged the students not to “underestimate the impact they could have”, picking out girls and young women in the audience who had battled difficult circumstances to succeed and help others.

Anti-apartheid tribute

Appearing visibly moved, Mrs Obama paid tribute to the struggle of the anti-apartheid movement, speaking in a church where students sheltered after soldiers opened fire on a peaceful anti-apartheid protest in 1976.

“It is a story that has unfolded across this country and across this continent, and also in my country,” she said.

“The story of young people, 20 years ago, 50 years ago, who marched until their feet were raw, who endured beatings and bullets and decades behind bars, who risked and sacrificed everything they had for the freedom they deserved…It is because of them that I stand before you as First Lady of the United States.”

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She also spoke passionately about women’s rights, saying the young generation could ensure that women were no longer “second class citizens”, and could stand up to stop domestic violence.

She said: “You can be the generation that stands up and says violence against women in any form, in any place, including the home – especially the home – that isn’t just a women’s rights violation, it’s a human rights violation, and it has no place in any society.

“You see, that is the history that your generation can make.”

Mrs Obama was introduced at the church by Nelson Mandela’s wife, Graca Michel. Mrs Obama met Nelson Mandela on Tuesday as part of her second solo trip abroad.

She finished her speech with the rallying cry that saw her husband, Barack Obama, win the 2008 presidential election.

“If anyone ever tells you that you shouldn’t or you can’t, then I want you to say with one voice – the voice of a generation – you tell them, ‘yes, we can’,” she said – as the audience, inspired by her enthusiasm, chanted the phrase with her.