ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2018
United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. In the three months the application was open in 2018, students applied to join the Class of 2018 on 285 campuses across 57 nations. 30 campuses worldwide (just 11%) were selected to host the 402 Millennium Fellows in the global pilot this year.
The Class of 2018 is bold, innovative, and inclusive. During the Millennium Fellowship, Millennium Fellows' dedicated 48,785 hours and their 214 unique projects positively impacted the lives of 393,449 people worldwide.
UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT THADSIKA PONNAMPALAM, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2018.
Concordia University | Quebec, Canada | Advancing SDG 3 & UNAI 9
" I'm excited to be a Millenium Fellow, because I think it's important to bring awareness and especially to one that really means a lot to me, to raise awareness to a project that could help many children that are fighting their mental battles.
I also am a strong believer in making a difference as a team. Working in a team is the key to making a change, no matter how little or how large. As minds come together, stronger the impact. "
Millennium Fellowship Project: MEDLIFE Concordia
This Fall, MEDLIFE Concordia has taken the initiative to raise $5000 in efforts to support children, adolescents, adults, and families who suffer from mental disabilities and raise awareness to destigmatize the vital need for mental health.
The initiative began with "Kick it for MEDLIFE" where students would gather to take part in a soccer tournament but most importantly, be informed of MEDLIFE's cause and outcomes from the event. Secondly, we hosted a fundraiser in the theme of a Thrift Shop, where students can purchase gently used clothing items for which all proceeds would go towards our $5K goal. MEDLIFE Concordia has hosted other fundraisers where students are required to pay an entrance fee and to take part in our events, such as a board-game night and a trivia night. These events allowed students to gather and compete in their favorite board games, and contest each other in a trivia, based on a popular TV-show. MEDLIFE has also conducted minor, yet equally important events. Our MEDtalk, an informative seminar session themed in a TED talk style, provides students with updates on our advancements and allows doctorate speakers to discuss various health topics. Our weekly bake sales allowed students in our campus purchase freshly baked goods in order to generate funds to further aid us in solidifying our $5000 goal. This December, MEDLIFE Concordia will host the last fundraiser of 2018, "A Winter Wonderland". This fundraiser event requires students will pay an entrance fee to attend a masquerade in celebration of the holiday season. With this final event, MEDLIFE Concordia looks toward securing our goal and possibly exceed our expectations in support.
Simultaneously, we have successfully addressed the poverty-stricken community of Montreal, Canada. Through "Food for All", a project driven to provide food for the homeless and hungry, MEDLIFE Concordia partners with volunteering restaurants to support these individuals. MEDLIFE Concordia and its volunteers would assemble food packages comprising of a healthy meal, utensils, water, and when possible, a hearty dessert. As a group, everyone would walk through the downtown streets of downtown Montreal and deliver to the homeless and hungry. Additionally, we would make an effort to spend a few minutes having a conversation with the indigent individuals, hearing of ways we can provide more help, and sometimes give them a few laughs.
About the Millennium Fellow
I'm a biology student, entering my third year in university. I enjoy reading books and listening to music. Throughout my school years I grew up very shy and quiet, but then when I got my first job at 16, I was able to be more social and love connecting with people.
