ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2024
United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. This year, 52,000+ young leaders applied to join the Class of 2024 on 6,000+ campuses across 170 nations. 280+ campuses worldwide (just 5%) were selected to host the 4,000+ Millennium Fellows.
UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT ISHITA GOEL, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2024.
Ashoka University | Haryana, India | Advancing SDG 4, SDG 13, SDG 3, SDG 5 & UNAI 6
" I have often seen women around me neglect their own health, either because they find the problem tolerable or fear it will hinder their work. Society expects women to prioritize the well-being of others, often at the expense of their own health, and to sacrifice themselves at every step of their lives. I want women to feel empowered to prioritize their health with pride and confidence. I hope to create an environment where women can visit STI clinics without shame, take care of themselves without the burden of societal stigma, and assert authority over their own bodies, especially in the face of abortion bans and restrictive laws. "
Millennium Fellowship Project: Project Hema
In India, especially in rural areas, people have quite a conservative mindset regarding menstrual health and education. Recently, there was an incident where a teen girl committed suicide because of her fear of periods. Our project aims to create an impact by spreading awareness regarding menstrual health. Another issue we want to focus on is sustainability and climate change. Research says that rural areas are actually more sustainable than we think they are. However, they lack formal education on more modern approaches and effects of climate change. Through our material, we also plan to reach out to them on a grassroots level to create real change. Our aim is to:
(1) Conduct primary and secondary research to properly understand the gaps in learning when it comes to menstruation and sustainability. (2) Using this research to create/develop reports and make them accessible to everyone digitally, unlike most literature which has paywalls. AND/OR
(3) Creating modules (accounting for regional, cultural and religious differences) to educate school-going children regarding menstruation and sustainability. These modules would be based on the research we conduct.
About the Millennium Fellow
Ishita Goel is a third-year biology undergraduate student who is deeply passionate about women's health and social impact. Her interest stems from her research on Khafd- the practice of Female Genital Cutting within the Dawoodi Bohra Community. She has seen women around her frequently neglect their own health, prioritizing their families and careers over their own well-being. Ishita is committed to raising awareness about this and aspires to pursue a career in epidemiology and research to advance women's health rights.
