Mrs. Bush’s 2007 Travels
Mrs. Bush’s 2006 Travels
Mrs. Bush's 2007 Travels
President and Mrs. Bush Travel to Latin America
March 2007
President and Mrs. Bush's Trip to Latin America
President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico from March 8-14, 2007. This trip underscored the U.S. commitment to the Western Hemisphere and highlights our common agenda to advance freedom, prosperity, and social justice and deliver the benefits of democracy in the areas of health, education, and economic opportunity
Brazil
President Bush and Mrs. Bush participated in a visit to Meninos do Morumbi. Founded in 1996 by professional musician Flavio Pimenta, the organization teaches musical skills to the young people of Sao Paulo as an alternative to the culture of drugs and crime.
Departing from the President's schedule, Mrs. Bush participated in roundtable discussion at AlfaSol Literacy program in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Students who complete the literacy program are eligible to enter Brazil's Youth and Adult Education (YAE) national program, which offers skills training for specific employment opportunities. She later visited Projecto Aprendiz in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Developing the concept of the neighborhood as a school, the program supplements school education with a wide range of community-based activities. The work carried out by Aprendiz has been recognized by UNICEF as a best practice project to be disseminated worldwide.
Uruguay
President and Mrs. Bush met with President Tabare Vazquez of Uruguay and his wife, Mrs. Maria Auxiliadora Delgado de Vazquez at Estancia Anchorena. The President and Mrs. Bush overnighted in nearby Montevideo before continuing on to Colombia for the fourth stop of their five-country, Latin American visit.
Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Delgado de Vazquez toured historic Colonia del Sacramento. While their husbands assumed different schedules, the two women took the opportunity to talk about youth, health and education issues.
Columbia
After participating in an arrival ceremony with President Bush, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and his wife Lina Moreno at Casa de Narino in Bogotá, Colombia, Mrs. Laura Bush read to children during a visit to Rafael Pombo Foundation in Bogotá, Colombia.
Guatemala
President and Mrs. Bush visited three Guatemalan villages during the morning hours before departing for Mexico. President and Mrs. Bush, Guatemalan President Oscar Berger, and his wife Wendy Widmann de Berger visited a medical readiness and training exercise at the Carlos Emilio Leonardo School in Santa Cruz Balanya, Guatemala. The four viewed members of the Patzun Dance group perform a cultural dance during a visit to Iximche, Guatemala. While in Santa Cruz Balanya, Mrs. Bush presented a gift of books for the Dr. Richard Carroll Municipal Library during a tour of the facility. President and Mrs. Bush also witnessed a demonstration of a Mayan Ritual competition in Iximche, Guatemala.
Mexico
President and Mrs. Bush participated in arrival ceremonies at Hacienda Temozon with President Felipe Calderon and Mrs. Margarita Zavala in Temozon Sur, Mexico.
Mrs. Zavala, wife of Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, toured the Mayan ruins in Uxmal, Mexico with Mrs. Bush. The visit to Mexico marked the final leg of the visit by the President and Mrs. Bush to Latin America.Mrs. Bush's 2006 Travels
The President and Mrs. Bush
Participated in the APEC Summit
November 2006
President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush began week long trip through Russia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and Hawaii on November 15, 2007. In Singapore, the President and Mrs. Bush visited the National Library Building where she was briefed on the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library and viewed the Singapore and Southeast Asia Collections and rare book display.
President and Mrs. Bush also visited Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for the 2006 APEC Summit. Mrs. Bush participated in a briefing on HIV/AIDS and Avian Influenza.
Mrs. Bush highlighted education in Bogor, Indonesia before returning to Washington DC through Hawaii.
The President and Mrs. Bush
Visited Germany and Russia
July 2006
Germany
On July 12, 2006, the President and Mrs. Bush departed for a Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. Mrs. Bush spoke with school children during a visit to the Stralsund Children's Library in Stralsund, Germany. She also participated in the ribbon cutting to open the exhibit America@yourlibrary. The America@yourlibrary is a new initiative to develop existing and new partnerships between German public libraries and the U.S. Embassy and Consulate Resource Centers
Russia
Mrs. Bush also participated in a roundtable and danced with youngsters at the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Clinical Center of Russia in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The President and Mrs. Bush
Traveled to Austria and Hungary
June 2006
Hungary
President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Budapest, Hungary and Vienna, Austria, where Mrs. Bush and Dr. Klara Dobrev, wife of Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsanys, participated in a roundtable discussion about breast cancer awareness.
Austria
The President and Mrs. Bush were joined by U.S. Ambassador to Austria Susan McCaw during a roundtable discussion with foreign students at the National Library in Vienna.
Mrs. Bush Led Delegation to Inauguration in Costa Rica
May 2006
President George W. Bush announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to San José, Costa Rica to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Óscar Arias Sánchez, President of the Republic of Costa Rica on May 8, 2006.
Mrs. Laura Bush led the delegation, accompanied by The Honorable Mark Langdale, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Costa Rica.
President and Mrs. Bush Traveled
to Afghanistan, India and Pakistan
March 2006
On February 28, 2006, President and Mrs. Bush left for a five-day trip to visit India and Pakistan. Mrs. Bush continues to underscore the President's commitment to advancing democracy through women's empowerment, HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, and education for all children.
Afghanistan
President and Mrs. Bush made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Wednesday. After visiting with United States troops stationed in Afghanistan and meeting with President Karzai, President and Mrs. Bush continued their trip to New Delhi, India.
India
After participating with the President in a wreath-laying ceremony in Rajghat at the memorial for Mahatma Gandhi. Mrs. Bush visited Sesame Street India, Gali Gali Sim Sim, where she toured and taped a segment for the show to highlight the Administration's commitment to public-private partnerships abroad. Her visit raised awareness of a pre-school educational milestone for India - the upcoming broadcast launch of Sesame Street India, Gali Gali Sim Sim, to India's broad viewing public.
Mrs. Bush held an informal discussion at Prayas Institute of Juvenile Justice, a child-focused development organization helping educate, heal and care for India's underserved and vulnerable girls. At Prayas, girls gain an education, empowering them to negotiate their own sexual lives and learn skills they can one day use.
Later, Mrs. Bush visited with homeless and disabled children at Mother Teresa's Jeevan Jyoti Home for Disabled Children to honor Mother Teresa's example of compassion and service, which continues today through the work of the sisters of Jeevan Jyoti. President and Mrs. Bush appreciate the work of faith-based organizations helping people around the world who live at the margins of society.
Mrs. Bush participated in an HIV/AIDS event and discussion with HIV-positive mothers at the Acharya N.G. Ranga Agriculture University. Through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the United States has increased funding for HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment programs in India to $29.3 million and has established a partnership among United States and Indian businesses to fight HIV/AIDS. The United States will continue to work with India and other countries to help overcome the stigma of HIV/AIDS and give hope to people living with the disease.
While at the Acharya N.G. Ranga Agriculture University, Mrs. Bush also met with a cross-section of local women leaders to highlight the Administration's commitment to advancing democracy, the importance of education and the empowerment of women.
Pakistan
In Islamabad, Mrs. Bush participated in an education roundtable to highlight education partnerships such as the one established by UNESCO and Children's Resources International, Pakistan. The United States partners with UNESCO and other USAID-supported organizations to provide educational opportunities so that all children can realize their full potential.
Mrs. Bush also met with Mrs. Sehba Musharraf, wife of the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Later, Mrs. Bush re-joined the President to attend a state dinner hosted by President Musharraf.
Mrs. Bush Led Delegation
to the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, Italy
February 2006
Mrs. Laura Bush led the United States Delegation to the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, Italy:
- The Honorable Ronald P. Spogli, U.S. Ambassador to Italy
- Miss Barbara Bush
- Mr. Roland Betts, Founder and Chairman of Chelsea Piers, L.P.
- Mr. Brad Freeman, Founder Freeman Spogli & Co.
- Ms. Dorothy Hamill, Olympic Gold Medalist and Member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
- Dr. Eric Heiden, Olympic Gold Medalist and Member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
- Ms. Kerri Strug, Olympic Gold Medalist
- Dr. Debi Thomas, Olympic Bronze Medalist
- Mr. Herschel Walker, Former Olympian, Professional Football Player & Heisman Trophy Winner
Mrs. Bush Traveled to West Africa
January 2006
Liberia
Mrs. Bush traveled to Liberia to attend the inauguration of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first woman elected president on the continent of Africa. The United States strongly supports the recent democratic elections in Liberia and the United States delegation's attendance reflects President George W. Bush's continued commitment to democracy. The United States looks forward to working with President Johnson-Sirleaf and the people of Liberia to rebuild their institutions, establish stability and prosperity, and create an environment for reconciliation.
Ghana
Mrs. Bush also visited Accra, Ghana, where she joined Ghana President John Agyekum Kufuor and presidents of six United States minority-serving universities to unveil the Africa Education Initiative Textbooks and Learning Materials Program. This program links minority-serving colleges in the United States with institutions in Africa to provide 15 million textbooks and school supplies for African students.
Mrs. Bush traveled to Abuja, Nigeria to announce a shipment of antiretroviral drugs to St. Mary's Hospital. The drugs, made possible through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, will provide 500 people with antiretroviral treatment. The United States, through the President's emergency plan, was also able to help St. Mary's by purchasing equipment used in a new laboratory.
Nigeria
Mrs. Bush also met with Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo, who has been a partner in trying to get treatment to as many people as possible in Nigeria. The United States will commit $163 million this year to Nigeria to treat people with HIV/AIDS to try to prevent the spread of AIDS and to help people who are HIV-positive live long and productive lives. Over 29,000 Nigerians have been treated with funds from the President's emergency plan already.