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 VAISHNAVI VITHALRAO MAKNE, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW AND CAMPUS DIRECTOR FOR THE CLASS OF 2024.
Symbiosis International (Deemed University) Pune | Pune, India | Advancing SDG 5 & UNAI 6
" "Giving back to the society is the price you must pay for the space you occupy in this world." I am enthralled to be a Millennium Fellow because I truly believe that it provides a wonderful platform to bring my vision of gender equality to life. I come from a small town in Maharashtra, where there is little to no one who advocates for gender equality and I would want to start the process of that advocacy through me and this fellowship grants me the support necessary for the same. "
Millennium Fellowship Project: Naritva-The Fight Against Female Foeticide
My project aims to address and combat the deeply rooted issue of female foeticide in Maharashtra, which remains a significant social problem despite legal safeguards. By raising awareness, providing education, and encouraging community involvement, the project has and will continue to foster a cultural shift towards valuing and respecting girls, promoting gender equality, and reducing the prevalence of female foeticide.
The initiative focuses on grassroot-level intervention, engaging various stakeholders including the rural population of Maharashtra, healthcare professionals, local authorities, women's organizations, religious leaders, and families to prevent sex-selective abortions. Key Objectives:
To raise awareness and educate communities, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, on the harmful consequences of female foeticide, promoting the value of the girl child and equal rights for women.
To engage local community leaders, influencers, and religious heads to act as champions for gender equality and advocates against female foeticide.
Target Areas:
The project will focus on districts in Maharashtra that have the highest reported cases of female foeticide and skewed sex ratios. These include districts like Beed, Jalgaon, Solapur, Latur and Nagpur which have been identified as critical areas needing immediate intervention.
Key Activities:
Workshops and Community Dialogues: Organize workshops for different community groups including youth, parents, teachers, and health workers to discuss the importance of gender equality and the dangers of female foeticide.
School and College Programs: Conduct educational programs in schools and colleges to sensitize young people on gender equality, reproductive rights, and the value of daughters.
Expected Outcomes:
Reduction in Female Foeticide: A measurable decrease in the practice of female foeticide in target areas, reflected in an improved sex ratio at birth.
Increased Awareness: Enhanced public awareness and change in attitudes towards female children, reducing the societal preference for male offspring.
About the Millennium Fellow
Vaishnavi Vithalrao Makne is a bright, young and a vivacious law student, currently in her final year. Born and brought up in a small town in Maharashtra, Vaishnavi has always been curious and compassionate about creating an impact and bringing about change in her surroundings. She is a potent and a passionate advocate for gender equality and a feminist at heart. A lawyer-in the making, Vaishnavi is keen on using the oppourtunities and the platform she is blessed with, to bring about a change in the world. She believes that charity truly begins at home and hopes that her message and actions have a ripple effect in the world.
