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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 LEON NYONGESA ABONYO, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW AND CAMPUS DIRECTOR FOR THE CLASS OF 2025.

Kenyatta University | Nairobi, Kenya | Advancing SDG 5, SDG 5 & UNAI 3

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" I do the work I do because silence and inequality persist. Collective empowerment is the instrument through which transformation becomes possible. When voices unite, communities heal; when cultures shift, justice emerges. My journey is fueled by the conviction that inclusive change can create a more equitable and sustainable world. "

Millennium Fellowship Project: She Rises With Him

She Rises With Him' is a gender empowerment initiative that aligns with SDG 5: Gender Equality. It recognizes that true gender equality cannot be achieved without the involvement of both women and men. It's mission is to create a world where girls are not just protected and educated, but where boys understand why that matters. Through it, I aim at conducting school and community-based outreach programs that engage both genders. From my experience as a girl raised in slums and having faced gender inequality in student elections in campus, I aim at breaking harmful cultural norms such as gender-based violence, and unequal access to education and leadership to girls and women. I believe that this is achievable and attainable if young boys and men become allies in the fight for gender equality. What sets 'She Rises With Him' apart is the belief in shared growth. I believe that boys should be included in the conversation hence teaching empathy, respect, and shared responsibility is key to all genders. The activities that I'll plan and hold to ensure this project works include: workshops, storytelling sessions, open dialogues, and mentorship programs designed to build mutual understanding and long-term change.

About the Millennium Fellow

Leon Nyongesa Abonyo is a final-year student at Kenyatta University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Analytical Chemistry with Management and a BBA student in the University of the People currently in her first year. She is also the founder of She Rises With Him, an initiative that aims at engaging both men and women to challenge harmful cultural norms and advance gender equality.
She is passionate about youth leadership, community empowerment, and sustainable development. After her graduation, she aims to do her MBA.

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