REBECCA BUNCE
29, POLICY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER FOR A CHARITY, LONDON
Bunce was praised at the event by Obama for her “fight for people with disabilities and against violence against women”.
“I think that when friends see friends making big decisions, it’s natural for them to offer advice. It is no surprise that Obama has spoken out about the EU. Both the leave and remain campaigns have talked about the referendum as the UK working out where we sit in a globalised world. We are deciding what we want our future international relationships to look like. So it seems pretty sensible that the world would want to join in the conversation with us.”
MWENYA KAWESHA
28, STRATEGY CONSULTANT, LONDON
“He has such great power and yet talked with such humility. There aren’t many people in politics who are as charismatic as President Obama, and then, when we look beyond politics, he poses stiff competition for most on the charisma front. He has a unique ability to connect earthly, daily activities to aspirational dreams for a greater future, and has told countless stories to help us emotionally connect with others who are separated from us by distance and time. It’s fair to say his abilities are rare.”
DIVINE BLESS
26, A CONSULTANT
KIMBERLEY BROWN
26, MA STUDENT AT LSE
“He touched on systemic change and how change is not just about being a leader but that, as young people, we can be the change we want to see. To compromise, you need to understand your own opinion and also have an ear for the opposing opinion, and when you do that you are able to balance it out and make the best choices. The UK should be happy with his input [on Brexit], but then it is for David Cameron and the British people to decide what is best for the UK.”
Brown said of Obama’s appearance: “It was really inspiring; the best bit for me was to meet the first black president in my lifetime.”
OMAR SORR
18, A-LEVEL STUDENT IN WESTMINSTER, LONDON
“As a very popular, if not the most popular US president in the UK (in my opinion, and judging from the roaring crowds this morning), I do think his opinion wields some influence on the British electorate. Whether or not his input is crucial comes down to people’s personal opinion of the president, the US, and the special relationship - not to forget the ensuing debate that still has time to develop into a healthy one.”
MARIA MUNIR
20, A STUDENT FROM LONDON
She came out as “non-binary” to the president during the event.
“I’ve been sitting on this issue for such a long time. I haven’t come out to my parents, so I’m sorry, mum and dad – and I just thought if anyone in the world is going to be able to accept me for who I am it should be the president of the United States. In order to really be the face of change, he needs to start doing something about transgender rights, because the T in LGBT has been ignored for a very long time.”
KHADIJA NAJEFI
21, STUDENT AT KING’S COLLEGE LONDON
She introduced President Obama to the audience.
“My dad came with me and was in the audience but I was terrified. I met him and the ambassador backstage. I asked how he was and he did the same. I told him about myself and what I want to do. I suppose it is quite political. I volunteered for the jungle camp in Calais, and I want to work in human rights law.”
