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 GIFT NYAKUTIRA, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW AND CAMPUS DIRECTOR FOR THE CLASS OF 2024.
University of Zimbabwe | Harare, Zimbabwe | Advancing SDG 3, SDG 11, SDG 4, SDG 16, SDG 17 & UNAI 9
" Empowered by the Millennium Fellowship, I stand ready to transform vision into reality. With unwavering resolve, I will leverage collaboration and innovation to drive sustainable development forward. The Fellowship has equipped me to redefine my approach to a pervasive global challenge that undermines the fabric of our communities: drug and substance abuse, which leaves countless lives in disarray. Through the Fellowship Project, the NuePath International Recovery Network, I am committed to instilling hope and championing community Recovery from drug addiction, social disconnections created, and mental health disorders, while proactively fighting substance abuse. With the knowledge and leadership skills gained from the Fellowship, NuePath has evolved beyond just 'my project'. I now lead a passionate team of dedicated leaders and volunteers committed to driving meaningful change. I should admit gratefully that the Millennium Fellowship has been the foundation upon which NuePath has flourished and still is. The journey has begun, and I am committed to making a lasting impact. "
Millennium Fellowship Project: NuePath International Recovery Network (NIRN)
NuePath International Recovery Network (NIRN) is a project driving Community Recovery from Drug and Substance Abuse and Addiction, addressing UN SDG 3 Target 3.5. Founded by Gift Nyakutira, a Millennium Fellow, NIRN is a non-profit, community-based Initiative with a bold vision: To create an empowered global Network that champions Recovery from Addiction, Mental Health issues, Social Disconnection, while proactively fighting Drug and Substance abuse, and engaging all sectors of society. The goal is to realize addiction and drug-abuse-free communities (Institutions, universities, Schools, Organizations, Villages, Societies, Gatherings, Events, e.t.c.) through a multisectoral approach and drive SDG goals especially, 3, 11 and 17. APPROACH
NuePath will use available minimum resources to raise awareness, educate, engage as well as prevent drug abuse, especially among the youth but not excluding other age groups. We will make use of social media, seminars, community outreaches, competitions, entertainment as well as drug abuse-themed storytelling and essay writing together with testimonial speech contests where former drug addicts and drug abuse victims consent to share their experiences in a competition. We believe that recovery starts with awareness and education. Our mission is to engage communities, particularly the youth, in meaningful discussions about drug abuse prevention while driving the Zimbabwe Multisectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan (2024-2030).
NuePath as an international network embraces a multi-sectoral approach against drug and substance abuse and promotes recovery from addiction. We want to see rehabilitation services, guidance and Counselling services, and support networks established in the community.
About the Millennium Fellow
Gift Nyakutira is a highly organized Student Medical Laboratory Scientist at the University of Zimbabwe. Born and raised in Mutoko rural (Zimbabwe), his academic journey has been marked by consistent excellence. Surely, ability met passion in him! Not only is Gift academically gifted, he is also a globally competitive student with strong leadership and communication skills. He is the Founder and Executive Director of NuePath International Recovery Network (NIRN), a gold standard initiative championing community recovery from drug addiction, social disconnections created and associated mental disorders while proactively fighting drug and substance abuse.
