“Considering the most profound effect that Greece has had on European, Western and world history, it is remarkable, in part because it was at the crossroads of East, West, North and South, there was trade, shipping and exchange of ideas, such as that is happening among the alumni here,” said former US President Barack Obama, addressing about 100 graduates of this year’s Obama Foundation Leaders program at a meeting that ended a while ago at a hotel in downtown Athens.

The event lasted about 75 minutes and four graduates of the program from Slovakia, Malaysia, Zimbabwe and Namibia spoke with the former President of the USA, with Mr. Obama asking them questions about what they gained by participating in the specific program, about their dreams, about the concept of integrating people excluded from society, but also about how they define the concept of leadership through their personal values.

Mr. Obama commented, among other things, that “I look forward to seeing you continue to change the world.”

Mr. Obama’s reception in the hall was rapturous, with graduates of this year’s program giving him a standing ovation.

He was joined on stage by his sister, Maya Soetoro Enji, an advisor to the Obama Foundation.

The event was opened by the Greek participant in the 2023 program, Elpida Kokkota, founder of the non-profit organization “Mexoxo”.