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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 RIYA S, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW AND CAMPUS DIRECTOR FOR THE CLASS OF 2025.

University of Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram, India | Advancing SDG 4, SDG 3 & UNAI 9

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" Being a Millennium Fellow is not just an opportunity it's a responsibility I deeply value. I am driven by the vision of giving voice to the unheard, especially students and communities living in vulnerable conditions. Through my work, I aim to bridge the gap in access to quality education, advocate for justice, and contribute meaningfully to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). I believe that with collective effort, empathy, and action, we can build a world where equality isn't a dream, but a lived reality. "

Millennium Fellowship Project: Dheena Dhwani & Holding Hands

The aim is to raise awareness and act toward eradicating poverty by empowering individuals with knowledge, opportunities, and access to legal resources.
Through this, we hope to amplify the unheard voices and make a tangible difference in the lives of those who struggle silently in our society. Holding Hands,” is built on the beautiful idea that together, we can create sustainable change.
This initiative focuses on SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being and SDG 4 – Quality Education, aiming to foster community sustainability, emotional support, and educational inclusion.
Through “Holding Hands,” we want to build bridges of compassion — encouraging students, families, and institutions to collaborate for a healthier and more caring society.
This project reminds us that real transformation happens when hearts unite — when we hold each other through difficulties, sharing both knowledge and kindness.
Our approach blends community engagement and practical assistance — ensuring that small efforts lead to lasting results. As part of Dheena Dhwani, our first step was to conduct a preliminary field study to identify the most affected and neglected areas where legal and social awareness is minimal.
Through this, we discovered that poverty and lack of awareness often go hand in hand — especially when people are unaware of their basic legal rights and protections.
With this understanding, we organized a Legal Awareness Session at the Vocational Higher Secondary School, PMG, focusing on high school students who represent the next generation of change-makers.
We discussed critical social issues like drug abuse, cybercrimes, and child protection, introducing them to essential laws like the NDPS Act, the POCSO Act, and the legal measures available for online safety.
The session was not a lecture but an interactive dialogue — students shared their thoughts, asked insightful questions, and even expressed interest in pursuing legal studies to serve their communities.
It was heartening to see that even a small awareness initiative can plant seeds of responsibility and empathy in young minds.
As part of the Holding Hands project, we decided to focus on the early childhood stage, understanding that the foundation of growth and sustainability begins there.
We visited the Anganwadi at Barton Hill Colony, where we interacted with children below the age of four and the caregivers who nurture them daily.
We conducted a small study on nutrition, education, and early development, trying to understand the challenges these children and educators face.
To make the day more joyful, we distributed coloring books, crayons, and small activity materials to engage the children creatively. The smiles on their faces were priceless — a simple reminder of how much joy small gestures can bring.
We also had conversations with Anganwadi officials about the infrastructure, resources, and the programs they run for child development.
This experience helped us realize how crucial grassroot-level engagement is in understanding real community needs.
It was not just a visit — it was an opportunity to connect, learn, and reaffirm our commitment to sustainable community development.
The impact we’i've created is just the beginning.
We are determined to continue expanding these initiatives, reaching more communities, and collaborating with local bodies to ensure our efforts grow sustainably even beyond this fellowship.

About the Millennium Fellow

Riya S Elampadath is a dynamic second-year BA LLB student at Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram, University of Kerala ,known for her passion for law, public speaking, and community empowerment. As a confident communicator and problem-solver, she actively engages in legal research and content presentation, while also mentoring aspiring students. She serves as a Senior Volunteer of NSS and Coordinator of Empower Ed, an NGO and also HOD in Renu Sharma Foundation (NGO) uplifting students from underrepresented backgrounds. Riya co-founded the UN Millennium Fellowship Project 2024 – Ekata Unnati and now leads Dheena Dhwani (2025), addressing poverty through legal awareness. Her internships with a High Court Judge, Senior Advocate, and Public Prosecutor have further strengthened her legal foundation.As a public speaker and mentor, Riya has guided students through law entrance preparation and contributed to state-level education expos. Her journey reflects leadership, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to justice.

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