ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2021
United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. In 2021, over 25,000 young leaders on 2,000+ campuses across 153 nations applied to join the Class of 2021. 136 campuses worldwide (just 6%) were selected to host the 2,000+ Millennium Fellows. The Class of 2021 is bold, innovative, and inclusive.
UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT NEHA SHANTARAM GAIKWAD, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2021.
Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture for Women | Pune, India | Advancing SDG 12 & UNAI 1
" While researching the Millennium Fellowship before applying, I was particularly impressed by the work done by the fellows in achieving their sustainable goals. The beliefs struck a chord with me on a very deep level. The Fellowship has given me the tools to make a difference in new ways. I will be able to network with other Millennium Fellows, as well as join a global network of change-makers who are trying to make the world better. "
Millennium Fellowship Project: Project Agroscape
The project ‘Agroscape’ deals with landscapes interspersed with agriculture. The pandemic situation has shown the rise in concern over food security and interest in healthier diets and quality lifestyles. Thus, it has become crucial to develop ecologically sensitive urban landscapes which integrate food rather than just aesthetics. To put this concept into practice, our project "Agroscape" has focused on developing urban farms in the form of edible landscapes that can be cultivated at the home, institute, and corporate levels.
1. Under Project Agroscape, a small-scale organic farm has been set up in the college campus of ‘Dr. B.N. College of Architecture, Pune.’ Agriculture based landscape has been designed which includes plantations of vegetables such as ‘Eggplant (Solanum melongena), chillies (Capsicum frutescens), Potato (Solanum tuberosum), Curry leaves (Murraya koenigii), Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)’. This produce is readily available and is planned to be utilized for food requirements in the college canteen. In order to set this farm, site visits to Urban farms and Biophilic projects in the vicinity were conducted to gain prior knowledge.
2. To increase our outreach, awareness in community and gain insights from experts in this domain, we have successfully conducted four online webinars under our ‘Organic Farming Techniques’ series. Speakers widely focused on topics such as the Importance of Bees in farming, Urban farming and Understanding an Architect’s role in SDGs.
3. An ‘SDG day’ event was also organized to educate and create awareness among fellow students through fun activities and quizzes. It held a crucial role in team bonding, communication amongst fellows and strengthening intra-team relations.
4. The project will further focus on expanding with Hydroponics (sustainable plantation technique to optimise water usage), Vertical gardening modules and Biophilic installations (with upcycled material) campus-wide.
5. An SDG Student hub has been set up on campus to gain participation of interested students which will ensure there’s no dead end to this initiative.
6. Along with this, we have also launched an outreach program by partnering with the regional Rotaract club. Within this program, our fellow mates are coworking with the Rotaract members to set up urban farms within old age homes and orphanages.
About the Millennium Fellow
Neha Gaikwad is a student of architecture who is presently focusing on creating net zero and climate resilient buildings to address the issue of climate change and sustainability. She is a promising student at Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture for Women in Pune, and her roots lie in agriculture. Neha is aware of food security and is interested in a healthy diet for everybody because of her family background. She has been an active member of numerous organisations that focus on various social concerns and help to alter society for the better. She has successfully organised several community service activities as an Events Head in her current academic year and looks forward to working on more in the near future. Neha hopes to be an architect, where she may strive to raise awareness of sustainable and green building design and contribute to the development of the United Nations' Sustainable Goals.
