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 RYYAN SAFAR, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2025.
APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University | Thiruvananthapuram, India | Advancing SDG 11, SDG 3 & UNAI 9
" I believe engineering should not exist only in labs and classrooms, but in the everyday systems people rely on without noticing. Through Overflow Ends With Us, we are working towards cleaner, smarter, and more responsible communities by rethinking something as simple as a waste bin. The Millennium Fellowship, for me, is an opportunity to turn small student ideas into systems that can create real, lasting impact in society, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. "
Millennium Fellowship Project: Overflow Ends With Us
Overflow Ends with Us addresses the challenge of overflowing trash bins and improper waste disposal by introducing smart sensor bins that notify cleaners before they spill over and by raising awareness about responsible waste practices. While the initiative begins on campus, the larger vision is to extend its impact across the locality, the district, the state, the country, and eventually the world - transforming shared spaces into cleaner, healthier, and happier environments everywhere.
During the Millennium Fellowship period (August-December 2025), Overflow Ends with Us is planning to install 10 sensor bins across campus, aiming for 500 total clearings (2,000 uses) with zero overflow incidents. The project is planning to conduct 200 surveys, targeting 80% of participants reporting visibly cleaner campus spaces, and to track at least 50 dumping incidents, aiming for a 50% reduction in repeat offenses. It is also planning to engage 100 community members in conversations to identify three actionable long-term solutions, while hosting awareness drives to strengthen sustainable waste habits.
About the Millennium Fellow
Ryyan Safar is a B.Tech student in Electronics and Communication Engineering at Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology (Autonomous), Kerala, India, under APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. Passionate about building technology that solves real-world problems, he works on projects that combine engineering with social and environmental impact. Alongside academics, he actively contributes to social and community initiatives, addressing grassroots challenges through collaborative action. As part of the Millennium Fellowship, Ryyan worked on “Overflow Ends With Us,” a smart waste management initiative focused on reducing bin overflows, improving waste segregation, and promoting cleaner, more sustainable communities through technology and data-driven systems.
