Angelina Jolie and The Clinton Global Initiative

Angelina Jolie just announced a commitment to educate one million children in areas of conflict. She stood on a stage in a small press room with the leaders of 15-20 organizations behind her and talked about the needs of kids around the globe who are going uneducated because of conflict raging around them.

She started off by saying, "It's a great honor to get to know children of refugees. They will have no floor, no pens, having not had breakfast and will just sit quietly to hear a teacher talk. These are kids who can be overwhelmed by despair and violence, or they can grow up and become teachers and help transform their communities."

Angelina announced that over 18 commitments are being made in more than 15 countries as part of the project, and as a result, one million children's lives will be improved. Involved organizations are Nike, the Sesame Workshop, UNICEF, the Save the Children Alliance and others.

When it came time to ask questions, I jumped at the chance (totally nervous of course). Here's what I asked…

"I'm a mom and my life was transformed when our blog became a clearinghouse for the people of the Gulf Coast who lost everything to Katrina. Mothers flooded our site because they wanted to do more than write checks; they wanted to give of themselves. For all of us, it seems, when we become mothers, the world's children become ours, as I imagine you would agree. My question is, for the moms and women, all of us -- we're so busy with our lives, shouldering the burdens of the world, taking care of our families and communities -- but we're online and we can get into action online. How can all of us who care about these issues support you? What would you like to ask us to do?"

Angelina gave the floor to several people on the podium with her, including Ann Venemann from UNICEF, and a few others. They emphasized that education should be seen as a right for these kids, and not just a charitable endeavor. These kids are the future of their countries, and educating them is the best thing we can do to reduce future conflicts. They also emphasized how little we in the US know about these issues, and bloggers can accomplish a LOT in getting the word out, in helping to educate us all about what's needed around the world.

Then, as the moderator was about to move on, Angelina jumped in and said, "I'd like to add something. One thing we can do as mothers is to talk to your own children. If we can help our kids understand the world, we can do something for our own understanding and theirs. A lot of these organizations have materials for children. You can show them different schools in different countries and help them appreciate what's going on."

So, that was kinda fun. A conversation with Angelina Jolie. Yeah, there were gazillions of people in the room (how DOES she hold her concentration and finish a sentence with 5,000 cameras with flashes going off every time she smiles?), but it felt like a connection and she seemed to like talking about being a mom.

Addendum:
Angelina just addressed the general assembly and and the conversation was about education. She talked about a boy she met in Afghanistan who was selling tissues (that's how he was making a living). A man with a wound said to the boy, "I'll give you some of my begging money if you'll give me some tissues." The boy said yes, and when the man unwrapped the bandages, the man's wound was covered in maggots. The boy ran away because he was scared. But he came back because he was a good kid, and he helped the man clean his leg wound. When I met them they had been together for a few months, and at that point, they were friends and the boy was helping the man. He was so gentle and did such a good job of cleaning the wound and taking care of him that I asked him, 'You're so good at caring for him, would you like to become a doctor?" He looked at me and said, "I must sell tissues." And I said, "'But if we could find a way for you to be educated and become a doctor, would you like that?" He said, "Yes, I would, but I must sell tissues.'" At that point, she was teary, as were a lot of people in the room. She went on to talk about the kids and say that there are good kids who need the opportunity of education.

______
Nicholas Kristof just made the point that a girl in southern Sudan is more likely to die in childbirth than be literate. Maternal mortality and lack of education in Sudan are unfathomable to us here.

Then he asked if everyone on stage had seen that kids in these developing countries are desperate to get educated? Angelina answered, "I took three kids to school to school this morning, and they weren't that excited about it. And here, kids will say things like they want to be an actress - not the noblest profession -- but in these countries, you see kids desperate to go to school and you ask them what they want to be and they want to be great things to help their countries."

Comments

[Mom101]

What an amazing, valuable experience to get to be a part of, Emily. Your question was wonderful. But was it answered as you hoped for? Besides "get the word out"... is there something more specific for us to know about?

[ann adams]

Cooper just emailed me that you have a post up. This is great although it's also sad.

We take so much for granted.

[PunditMom]

As Mom-101 said, truly amazing. And inspiring. As an adoptive mother, I'm partial to Angelina, notwithstanding all the media hype about her. What she says is true -- how can we get started?

[Ann D]

How fascinating. Thanks for keeping us in the loop.

[Molly]

Emily,
I applaud you for speaking up and for phrasing your question so well. You obviously got Angelina's attention in a very positive way. I hope she finds the time to join The Motherhood!!!

[Emily]

Thanks for your comments and kind words! To Mom101's point, I thought Angelina's answer was pretty great. The people who answered my question first spent a fair amount of time talking and included mention of their websites and programs underway that we could get directly involved with. When Angelina stepped forward to answer too, the moderator had already picked someone to ask the next question so, in the space of the press briefing room with all these people wanting to raise their hands and be called on, she didn't have a lot of leeway to dive in deep.

Next time I'd love to sit around a table with her and dive into the conversation!!! (If only :-) !!!)

[Brandie]

Wow! Emily, how great that you were there and able to ask a question.
I do think education is the key. So many people just don't understand or really get it. Of course, I think it would be hard to really get it without going there, seeing it, living it for a while (which I've not done either ftr).
I struggle with how to help - and I think educating the future generation will go far, but that also implies we are teaching our kids about it so that they can fix it too - I hope that all these issues will have solutions (or good head-ways) by the time my kids are adults!
I want to do things now! I want to find ways to do something today.

[MammaLoves]

That was cooler than my wildest dreams.

I'm so stoked now. Bring on BlogHers Act!!!!!

[DaniGirl]

Hey cool, if I know Emily, and Emily knows Angelina Jolie, that puts me at only two degrees of separation from Brad Pitt!

Oh, you mean there was a more important point to be made here???

Seriously, I think that was an amazing question, and I love the fact that she (and the other speakers) really seemed to give it decent consideration. Way wicked cool, as usual. I've just come to expect you guys to be awesome, you know!

[Kim]

How great!

Emily, have you actually invited Angelina to have a conversation? I know some excellent mom bloggers who are going to be meeting with Elizabeth Edwards very soon....

Some people, like EE, are tapped into the power of Mommybloggers; maybe Angelina is, or could be, one of those people. You never know what will happen when you ask nicely.

[Emily]

DaniGirl, you are hilarious and wonderful (as always!) and Kim, I love the idea of reaching out to Angelina and seeing how we might help her tap the Mommybloggers!!!! She's got amazing stories to tell, and the moms would be all ears! What the hexk ... it's worth a try!

[Angelina Jolie Gossips]

LOL Angelina Jolie is Great, go all the way :)