The founder of the More Than Me Foundation visited the White House on Wednesday and will be speaking to Girl Scouts on Sunday.
Katie Meyler, founder of the More Than Me Academy in Liberia, met with Krishanti Vignarajah, First Lady Michelle Obama's policy director, Wednesday in Washington D.C., to talk about how her organization fits in with the White House's #LetGirlsLearn initiative.
Meyler, who grew up in Bernardsville, founded the More Than Me Foundation in 2009 to help young girls in Liberia escape a life of sexual abuse and prostitution.
"More Than Me is Liberia's leading education innovator and vocal advocate for girls' empowerment," said Meyler. "We use education to get our girls to connect with their inner power and to act as a catalyst for change.
"Together, we are striving to build a future for all girls in Liberia, to ensure their safety, provide them with the tools they need to thrive, and create future leaders."
The foundation uses education to push for social change for every girl in Liberia. Meyler is also working with the Liberian government to overhaul the nation's entire educational system.
When the Ebola outbreak occurred in 2014, all of the international staff at the academy were evacuated, but Meyler returned to help the girls and their families. She was named a 2014 TIME Person of the Year for her efforts.
The #LetGirlsLearn program seeks to ensure girls from around the world are given access to education. Currently, the More than Me Academy is running a #voteforliberia fund-raising campaign where four students talk about "what their platforms would be if they were running for President."
On Sunday, Meyler will be speaking with girls, including her niece, about education in Liberia at Bernardsville United Methodist Church, 22 Church St., Bernardsville. The talk, hosted by Bedwell Elementary School Girl Scout Troop 60318, is part of the Girl Scouts celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Gold Award and marks the start of Women's History Month.
"We are extremely fortunate to have Meyler come and speak with our girls," said Patrica Carroll, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey. "Ms. Meyler is an alumnus of ours and is an amazing example of female empowerment and how extraordinary girls can be."
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn. "We truly believe the saying, 'You can't be what you can't see,'" said Jennifer Thompson, chief communications officer of Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey. "We could not be more thrilled to have Ms. Meyler share her work with the girls throughout New Jersey and show them that anything is possible when they harness their power."