VOA标准英语2014--米歇尔·奥巴马敦促年轻的非洲人接受妇女的权利

 

Michelle Obama Urges Young Africans to Embrace Women's Rights 米歇尔·奥巴马敦促年轻的非洲人接受妇女的权利

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, in speaking at the Young Africans Leaders Initiative program Wednesday, urged attendees to advocate for women's rights in their home countries. 

Obama told the gathering¹ that the issue of women's rights involves men as well.

"So to all the men, my brothers here today, I have a simple message. We need you to shake things up," Obama said.

She said women will play a crucial role in Africa's economic future.

“This is where Africa’s future lies - with those women-run businesses, with those girls attending university and with leaders like you who are making those dreams possible," Obama said.

Inspired by speech

Participants, such as Ezenwa Okoro of Nigeria, said they liked what the first lady had to say.  

"Every society is measured by the way they treat their women," Okoro said. "And, I feel so inspired by that and this is a message that I am taking back home to my people because where we come from, women don’t get a lot of respect. They don’t get what they deserve."

Lindiwe Dlamini of Swaziland said, "I was inspired most by the message concerning the support that we get from the men behind us."

Obama's remarks were a highlight of a Washington summit that included a speech by President Barack Obama as well.

The participants, who were selected from among 50,000 applicants², met with business leaders such as Alexa von Tobel, founder³ and CEO of LearnVest.com, a personal finance website, who encouraged them to think big.

"Don’t dream this big; dream this big," von Tobel gestured. "Dream so big that people think you are insane.”

 

Most participants are heading home after the summit wraps up. However, a small group will remain in the U.S. for internships.

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 applicants   

申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
• He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。

3 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。