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ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2025

United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. This year, 60,000+ young leaders applied to join the Class of 2025 on 7,000+ campuses across 170 nations. 290+ campuses worldwide (less than 5%) were selected to host the 4,500+ Millennium Fellows.

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UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT PAYEL BISWAS, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2025.

Christ (Deemed To Be University) Yeshwanthpur Campus | Bengaluru, India | Advancing SDG 4, SDG 4 & UNAI 5

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" My journey of teaching underprivileged children and supporting visually impaired individuals has shown me how even small acts of empathy can spark lasting change. I do this work because I believe dignity, education, and self-expression are rights every individual deserves, not privileges. Becoming a Millennium Fellow excites me as it offers the chance to connect these grassroots experiences with a global community, amplifying my voice and impact in building inclusive and resilient societies. "

Millennium Fellowship Project: Project Loud and Proud

In a society where people are constantly chatting, Loud and Proud offered students the courage to speak up. Launched as part of the Millennium Fellowship, this student-led project tackled a subject often overlooked in higher education: students' fear of public speaking and their lack of confidence in their abilities to communicate themselves. Loud and Proud provided a safe haven for students who were reluctant to speak up for four months, especially those from underrepresented groups or non-native English speakers. Through participatory workshops in public speaking, voice modulation, storytelling, and reading aloud, the project impacted dozens of kids and enhanced their communication skills and sense of self. In keeping with UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education, the program emphasized equitable access to learning opportunities outside textbooks, empowering students and helping them feel heard, respected, and in control. It also represented UNAI Principle 3, which promotes inclusive learning settings irrespective of background or linguistic ability. By the end of the Fellowship, students who had been silent were speaking out, leading conversations, and participating in ways they had never done before. Loud and Proud showed how giving someone the confidence to speak up can change both their life and their neighborhood

About the Millennium Fellow

Payel Biswas is a Business Analytics student from West Bengal, India, deeply committed to social impact and community empowerment. Her journey reflects a blend of leadership, creativity, and compassion, shaped by her active involvement in sports, cultural initiatives, and volunteering. She has worked with UPKRITI, where she taught underprivileged children, and with the VARA Foundation, where she supported and volunteered for visually impaired individuals. These experiences strengthened her belief in education, inclusivity, and equal opportunities as cornerstones of change.
Beyond volunteering, she champions mental wellness, women’s empowerment, and self-expression. She views fashion as a tool to build confidence and challenge stereotypes, encouraging individuals to embrace their uniqueness.With her diverse experiences, Payel aspires to connect social advocacy, creativity, and human insight to contribute to building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities at a global scale.

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