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 DEBJYOTI SAMADDAR, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2021.
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University | Lucknow, India | Advancing SDG 13 & UNAI 9
" I believe that to effectively bring positive change in the world, it is important for me to be part of the solution on a personal level and actively involve myself in creating an understanding between divergent cultures around the globe. Seeing as this program serves as a path to gain direction and discover answers for world issues – be it climate change, gender discrimination or social division, it is imperative for me to involve myself here. The program brings individuals from diverse fields and countries and works together in tackling interconnected issues. Working and discovering solutions with a diverse group will allow me to gain different perspectives and viewpoints on how to tackle interconnected issues and would help me in increasing my university’s International cooperation. Being part of a global team will ensure diversity of thought and experience.
Additionally, it would allow me to improve my problem-solving skills, understanding the issues from various angles, and develop my solution-oriented approach. This program would help me develop leadership skills by allowing me to take a gander at challenges from an alternate point of view, give a platform to my enthusiasm and passion, sharpen my relational skills and most importantly, help me utilize my potential as an asset. Being a Fellow would help me interact with the best mentors in my sector who can lead me and my community and help us promote our progress in the intended sustainable development targets we have set for ourselves, with our work. These are few of the reasons why I am excited to be a Fellow. "
Millennium Fellowship Project: Sustainability and Human Rights: Looking Beyond Environmental and Climate Change Laws
Being passionate about the environment and sustainable development goals, we realized that the current state of environmental and climate change laws is not sufficient to help reverse climate change. A different approach with an interconnection of sustainability and commercial and economic laws is needed and reimagining ways in which States and corporate can be held liable for environmental damage and human rights violations. The project encompassed 3 sub-themes: Sustainability and Environmental Laws, Sustainability and Trade, and Commerce and Sustainability and Human Rights. Keeping this in mind, we initiated our first project on sustainability and commercial law in Africa which drew collaborations from the African Network of Young Leaders. The project got the opportunity for presentation as a partner event at the UN Youth Environment Assembly 2021. The project is also selected for presentation with the Italian Ministry’s project, All4Climate. We intend to organize a similar project, this time focussing on Small Island Developing States, focussing on Maldives, Singapore, Mauritius, and Kiribati including symposia or conferences on these sub-themes every month for students, scholars, academicians, and professionals. We have prepared a detailed report for each theme and will now issue it as a free MOOC available for all.
About the Millennium Fellow
Debjyoti Samaddar is a dedicated, smart and eager to learn law student at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow (India). He was born in Mumbai, currently resides in Kolkata, his favourite city, and studies in Lucknow. Debjyoti has been passionate about climate change and the preservation of the environment ever since he was a child. In his high school experience, he learnt about sustainable development and how its impact can help a gamut of stakeholders. In law school, he had the opportunity to become part of a team that focussed on the intersection of law, sustainability as well as benefitting indigenious communities. Throughout high school, he was part of several initiatives where he helped clean up lakes and distributed food packets to the needy. He is now looking forward to figuring out a different approach with an interconnection of sustainability and commercial and economic laws. He hopes to continue working for the environment in some capacity and contribute to the development of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He is excited to be a Fellow as he feels that an interconnected global network of young and dedicated individuals working together, is the way to go.
