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.

UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT SHYMA SHAJ, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW AND CAMPUS DIRECTOR FOR THE CLASS OF 2025.
University of Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram, India | Advancing SDG 4, SDG 3 & UNAI 1

" Becoming a Millennium Fellow is an exciting opportunity to learn, collaborate, and grow alongside inspiring change makers from across the world. It offers a platform to strengthen my leadership skills, explore innovative solutions, and deepen my understanding of global challenges while working on local impact. I look forward to exchanging ideas, building meaningful connections, and turning my passion for justice, equality, and community empowerment into tangible action. This fellowship is a chance to dream bigger, act with purpose, and contribute to creating a more inclusive and sustainable future. "
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
Shyma Shaj is a passionate and goal-oriented student pursuing her B.A. LL.B at Government Law College, Trivandrum. With a deep interest in law, governance, and social change, she is recognized for her leadership abilities, dedication to learning, and active participation in academic and community-based activities. Shyma believes in using her legal education as a platform to promote justice, equality, and empowerment, and approaches every challenge with determination and empathy. Known among her peers for her clarity of vision and commitment to excellence, she strives to make a meaningful impact in both her professional journey and the communities she serves.








