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 GLADYS MUTHONI KIIRU, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2025.
Mount Kenya University | Thika, Kenya | Advancing SDG 5 & UNAI 8
" I am excited to be a Millennium Fellow because it gives me the chance to connect with like-minded young leaders from across the world who are passionate about solving real problems in their communities. For me, this is more than just a fellowship, it is a platform to learn, share ideas, and collaborate on sustainable solutions that will outlive me. I look forward to growing as a leader and sharpening my impact.
My drive comes from personal experience and observation. In my community and on campus, I have seen the realities of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and the silent scars it leaves behind. That is why I chose to advocate against SGBV: because I believe education and safe spaces are the foundation of dignity, equality, and opportunity. I do this work so that future students can grow, learn, and thrive without fear or violence. "
Millennium Fellowship Project: Voices Unbroken
Voices Unbroken is a storytelling and advocacy initiative that amplifies the voices of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. It provides safe, creative spaces where survivors can express their experiences through art, writing, and dialogue, turning pain into strength and silence into empowerment. The project works to challenge stigma, spark healing, and build empathy within communities. By transforming personal stories into collective advocacy, Voices Unbroken raises awareness, promotes gender equality, and inspires social change. At its heart, it is about restoring dignity, breaking cycles of silence, and proving that even in brokenness, voices can rise strong and unshaken.
About the Millennium Fellow
Gladys Muthoni Kiiru is a Special Needs Education student whose work is driven by a deep belief in dignity, safety, and equal opportunity for all. Her passion for education stems from seeing how inclusive learning can transform lives, and she is determined to use her skills to create spaces where every learner feels valued and supported.
Her advocacy extends beyond education into addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in campus communities. She is motivated by the conviction that no student should have their voice silenced or their future limited by violence.
Looking ahead, Gladys envisions herself as an educator and advocate who not only shapes inclusive classrooms but also builds safer institutions. She dreams of leading initiatives that combine education, policy, and community action to ensure campuses and society at large, become places of respect, equity, and empowerment.
