Fourteen TOMODACHI Generation Students Meet Former President Bill Clinton

On November 16, 2013, fourteen Japanese and American university students from the TOMODACHI generation met Former U.S. President Bill Clinton before he delivered the keynote speech at the Global Opinion Leaders Summit at Maihama Amphitheater.

The students engaged in a thirty minute discussion with President Clinton and asked him questions regarding world affairs. As aspiring young leaders, they asked for advice on problems facing the next generation, youth engagement in political participation, the extent of government’s role in combating social issues, women’s leadership, creating effective compromises, and working alongside critics to achieve solutions.

The students in attendance included program participants from TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program, TOMODACHI-Coca Cola Educational Homestay Program, TOMODACHI Summer SoftBank Leadership Program, TOMODACHI BEYOND Tomorrow Global Leadership Academy,  and TOMODACHI Summer BEYOND Tomorrow US Program and four TOMODACHI Initiative interns. 

A young woman who attended Clinton Global Initiative University as a TOMODACHI CGIU Fellow presented President Clinton with a TOMODACHI t-shirt. After the discussion, students entered the auditorium to watch the keynote speech.

President Clinton emphasized the importance of promoting gender equality in the Japanese workforce as a way to increase economic growth. He also encouraged investment in the future through infrastructure and building the next generation of leaders.