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 MADEEHA ARSHAD, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2021.
West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences | Kolkata, India | Advancing SDG 4 & UNAI 6
" The Fellowship provides us a platform to further the positive impact of our collective objectives towards a sustainable, equal and just future. It will not only help me understand the nuances of various fields but also give me the opportunity to learn from people who share similar passions. With the combined experiences, cultures and diversity of all members of the program, we can work towards making this planet more inclusive, empathetic and welcoming. Therefore, I am keen on pursuing this fellowship and contributing to the same. "
Millennium Fellowship Project: Sex Education for All (SEFA)
Sex Education For All (SEFA): which focuses on UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education in close alignment with the United Nations Academic Impact: Principle 6 furthering a commitment to encouraging global citizenship through education. We have reached out to adolescents from 9-12th standard in High Schools across India, equipping them with sex education and legal requisites that a child their age should be aware of. From understanding consent, to having the tools to deal with cyber harassment, or making benefits of the mental health act, SEFA aspires to inspire as many students as possible. With as many as 30 people from NUJS on board, Tushmi Udyalak as the Founder, Sushovan Patnaik as the co-founder are also heading the cohort as campus ambassadors of NUJS. We aim to equip the young adults at NUJS with social impact leadership training and skills as provided by UN MCN and UNAI. Social media harassment (IT Act and other related statutes), grooming (minors + consent), IPC Provisions (Outrage of Modesty, Voyeurism, etc.), POCSO and Sex Education topics like STI, pregnancy test, birth control etc have been covered via a Primer by us law-students in this project.
About the Millennium Fellow
Madeeha has been a part of a nationwide initiative that seeks to bridge inequalities through the organisation called ‘Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access (IDIA)’. As part of her work for the organisation, she has reached out to the marginalized groups, sensitised them to the benefits of legal education. She also feels strongly about the sheer lack of empathy and a culture of rampant victim-blaming that is inherent in Indian society. Survivors of domestic violence, acid attacks and sexual assault are often voiceless and have no recourse to turn to. She believes that there is a pressing need to reform the way society reacts to these victims and their plight. Pursuant to which, she has served as a research assistant for Justice Ventures International that provides pro bono legal assistance to the marginalized and promotes legal awareness.
