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 CHISOM ADAKU ODEMENA, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2024.
Trinity College Dublin | Dublin, Ireland | Advancing SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 12 & UNAI 7
" Many craftspeople are on the lowest rung of society, and often there is little regulation regarding their wages, hours and wages—most power is in the hands of middlemen. For consumers, the quality of their items have reduced while the prices have shot up, and the producers themselves aren’t reaping the benefits. Advocating for fair wages and ensuring that it is economically sustainable for the artisan class to exist is my number one goal. The Fellowship offers the unique opportunity to collaborate with likeminded people, equipping me with the skills and networks needed to make the desired impact. "
Millennium Fellowship Project: Rethinking Traditional Crafts
This project investigates strategies to sustain traditional craftsmanship industries during off-peak tourist seasons, with a focus on the Burano lace-making industry. These industries face significant challenges due to their dependence on seasonal tourism, which jeopardises their long-term viability. The research explores innovative approaches such as collaborations with Western designers, expanding online accessibility, and renting crafted items to theatre and film costume departments. By analysing qualitative insights from both artisans and consumers, the study aims to bridge traditional craftsmanship with contemporary demand in fashion and entertainment in order to encourage sustainable practices that align with slow fashion principles.
About the Millennium Fellow
Chisom Adaku Odemena is a competitive Economics student at Trinity College Dublin with an interest in law. She was born in Nigeria, resides in Dublin, Ireland, and is spending a year studying abroad at the Institut d’études politiques de Paris (Sciences Po). Passionate about equal employment opportunities, fair wages, and the artisan class, Ada has always been driven by a desire to support and elevate the creators of beautiful goods. Her commitment to these causes has been shaped by her experiences across diverse cultures and her dedication to economic equity.
