The first-ever cohort of Obama Foundation Scholars, rising civic leaders from around the world, participated in their final public event at the International House on Thursday, diving into details on the work they’ve done during their year on campus, and what they have planned as they return home.

"The overall rubric of Columbia World Projects is really to try to bring together the world of theory and the world of practice, the world of the university, with all of the incredible resources that it has, and the so-called 'real world' outside the walls of the university," Nicholas Lemann, the director of Columbia World Projects, said at the event, addressing the Scholars. "You're helping us," he added, "by being here for a year, reflecting what it's like to be a practitioner making positive change in the world." 

The scholars arrived on campus last August and have spent the year participating in a range of activities on and off campus aimed at building their leadership capacities in their home countries – including auditing courses, taking part in workshops, and engaging in seminars with Columbia World Projects deputy directors Ira Katznelson and Avril Haines. The final event consisted of four panel discussions that also touched on each scholar’s area of professional expertise. An archived version of the event livestream is available here: