Barack and Michelle Obama have announced they are going to donate $2 million to the summer jobs programmes in Chicago.

The former President disclosed the hefty personal donation during a speech at South Shore Cultural Centre, saying the former first couple are keen to provide a wealth of opportunities to children in his hometown.

“One of the things that we’ll be starting this year is Michelle and I are personally going to donate $2 million to our summer jobs programs here in the community,” he said.

“[It's] so that right away young people can get to work and we can start providing opportunities to all of them.”

Mr Obama also unveiled plans for a 200,000-square-foot campus on Chicago’s South Side –where he launched his political career.

It will also be home to the Obama Presidential Centre which will be used to “train the next generation of leadership, the Michelle Robinsons of today and the Barack Obamas of today”.

The centre will include a library, museum and a forum which will all be located next to a lagoon. Spokespeople for the foundation have said the project is likely to cost $500 million and should be finished in four years time.

Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Show all 15 1 /15 Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Joe Biden and Dr Jill Biden watch Barack Obama's farewell speech on 11 January. Obama called Biden his 'brother' Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years US President Barack Obama speaks alongside US Vice President Joe Biden about the Affordable Care Act AFP/Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama Getty Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years President Obama listens to Joe Biden speak of his work on defeating cancer on 18 October in the White House Reuters Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years U.S. President Barack Obama is applauded by House Speaker Paul Ryan and Vice President Joe Biden while delivering his final State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in Washington Reuters Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years U.S. Vice President Joe Biden interjects as President Barack Obama delivers remarks at a reception for the 25th anniversary of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics at the White House in Washington REUTERS Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Obama and Vice President Joe Biden react after a heckler was removed for their extended interruption (Reuters) Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Speaker of the House John Boehner (R) as Vice President Joe Biden looks on Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Barack and Michelle Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden observing a moment of silence outside the White House to mark the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Barack Obama and Joe Biden putt on the White House putting green Getty Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years President Barack Obama and Joe Biden in April 2013 AFP/Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years January 1, 2013: U.S. President Barack Obama winks as he arrives with Vice President Joe Biden (L) in the briefing room Reuters Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and others receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House May 1, 2011 in Washington, DC Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Vice-President Joe Biden, right, confirmed that the US was looking at ways of taking legal action against Julian Assange - back in December 2010 GETTY IMAGES Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Joe Biden, left, and retired military officers watch President Barack Obama sign orders to close down the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in January 2009 GETTY IMAGES

”What we want this to be is the world's premier institution for training young people and leadership to make a difference in their communities, in their countries and in the world. That is our goal,“ he said at the design unveiling in Chicago.

“More than a building or museum, the Obama Presidential Center will be a living, working centre for engagement - an ongoing project for the community and world to shape what it means to be an active citizen in the 21st century,” the foundation added.

Mr Obama and the former First Lady have kept a relatively low-profile since leaving the White House, enjoying some well-deserved time off in the British Virgin Isles, but are now slowly but surely returning to the public eye.

The former President took to the stage in Chicago for his first public appearance since Donald Trump’s inauguration last week. There he revealed his first post-White House project would centre on urging the next generation to become more politicised and civically engaged.