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 PRINCESS UGONMA ONYEAMA, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW AND CAMPUS DIRECTOR FOR THE CLASS OF 2024.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur | Kharagpur, India | Advancing SDG 4, SDG 10 & UNAI 3

" I am excited to be a Millennium Fellow because it provides a platform to drive tangible impact through collective action. My work, especially with the Eco Clean Community project, is driven by the desire to contribute to climate action and create sustainable solutions that can shape a better future for generations to come. "
Millennium Fellowship Project: Education for All
My project, titled "Education for All," is a social impact initiative aimed at ensuring quality education reaches underprivileged children in remote areas. Growing up in a rural village in Odisha, I experienced firsthand the challenges posed by inadequate educational resources and societal biases. This project addresses these issues by collaborating with welfare societies, NGOs, and my peers at IIT Kharagpur. Key objectives include bridging resource gaps by distributing study materials and digital resources, empowering women through educational awareness programs, and supporting specially-abled children with affordable, tech-based learning tools.
We integrate creative and mental development into the curriculum through arts, music, sports, and problem-solving activities. My initiative also conducts street plays to challenge stereotypes, organizes competitions to boost student morale, and arranges career guidance sessions to inspire ambition. Additionally, tree plantation drives and environmental projects encourage sustainability among students.
The vision is to create a self-sustaining model by involving local communities and scaling the initiative nationwide, fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities for all children. Through these efforts, I aim to break the cycle of poverty and build a future where education transforms lives regardless of background.
About the Millennium Fellow
Suryakanta Behera is a passionate data scientist and innovator, with a deep interest in machine learning, control systems, and sustainable development. As a National Finalist in a B-Plan competition, he pitched a sustainable business idea for the automotive industry. He has developed predictive models and simulation systems, including a ball-on-plate system and predictive maintenance for manufacturing units. He also co-founded the Eco Clean Community project, focusing on climate action, and was awarded the prestigious Millennium Fellowship by the United Nations Academic Impact.








