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Today, the cohort of Millennium Fellows at the University of Zimbabwe is reflecting on their Millennium Fellowship experience so far: the breakthroughs, the setbacks, the confidence, the doubt, the late nights, and the moments of pure joy. The cohort consists of 21 young changemakers, all eager to make an impact on their community and the world beyond. “When starting something new,  you need to be willing to be transformed by what you are transforming; good impact is a mutual endeavor. We persist with patience, kindness, empathy, and honor, making ripples. Unified and amplified by our newfound community, we will make waves” - Millennium Fellows of class of 2025 from the University of Zimbabwe Photo of the Millennium Fellows of class ‘25 at the University of Zimbabwe The Shared "Why" Even though the majority of fellows work on individual projects, they are all united by their collective heart for humanity. Each project is people-centered and the group found out that they all have a shared goal, as one of the fellows, Panashe put it: “to improve the lives of those around us using the resources available, no matter how minimal they may be”. The cohort is full of can-do spirit, go-getters, visionaries and optimists, who acknowledge that most problems in society are faced by groups of people (such as children, women, students, etc). Through conducting training sessions on their campus and coming together as a cohort, students at the University of Zimbabwe that they collectively share a deep desire to serve.  The Unexpected Emotions Makanaka, the Campus Director, revealed that their shared desire to help “has opened up a Pandora’s box of new complex  emotions”. Many of the fellows discovered that they began to doubt how helpful they can be as individuals. Another fellow, Shelton, mentioned that the highlight of the huge scope of problems engulfing their society has made them ponder on the question - “is what’s being done going to have any impact?” Suddenly, the group felt sadness, doubt, and guilt of not doing enough creep in. Ntandoyenkosi expressed that “every second started to feel like a wasted moment”. Following these complex emotions came a discomfort of not knowing. One more fellow, Tadiwa, found out that she was saying “I don't know yet” or “I'm still figuring it out” much more than she expected. Through going on such an emotional rollercoaster, the cohort began to pursue the subtle art of the wait and the quiet resilience of knowledge. Through shared vulnerability, they created a community and followed a rather  simple motto - "a problem shared is a problem half solved”. The "We Didn't See That Coming" Moment After all the emotional discoveries, the cohort was struck by the reality of things. Soon enough, they faced a challenge: “What we wanted to do was new, but the systems we were working with had long been established; to make it all even more comical - we were new to the system!” The group received cold “nos” or even any lack of acknowledgement. As a result, all of the Millennium Fellows recognised their own dependency on other people, especially those in authoritative positions. Shelton added that “when you start, you believe that you will be able to do almost everything you need pretty much alone, but then you discover that you need help with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... and you realize that you're not enough (and not in a bad way)”. On the other hand, Todiwa at first thought that “it would be easy to just build something and have people use it” but came to a realization that “without a strong network and support system, even the best ideas can fall flat”. The fellows learned that social change requires patience and persistence. Despite the rejections, the silence, and the betrayals, the team carried on and finally received the well-deserved recognition. Our Highest Highs They were invited to present their projects to the university’s higher-ups and to collaborate directly with their school’s administration. Makanaka proudly explained that “sitting around a table with the Dean of Students and the University’s Director of International Affairs, Marketing, and Relations - what we felt was the gravity of our projects, it was knowing that, despite the resistance, impact was possible”. There were highest highs not only on a collective, but also individual levels. For Tadiwa, one of the highest highs was “when I presented my project at a conference and received applause and recognition from climate action experts; it was a moment of validation for all the hard work and dedication I put into the project - seeing the impact it had on the audience and receiving positive feedback was incredibly fulfilling”. For Divine, one of the most significant moments was “when I successfully tracked down the background of a vulnerable child who had been living on the streets for years”. After long days of research and conversations with the community, she located the child’s mother and provided both of them with a safer environment.  Beyond the Project Somewhere between helplessness and hope, failures and victories, analysis and action, the cohort of Millennium Fellows at the University of Zimbabwe grew into the shoes befitting their impact. Ebbi pointed out that the Millennium Fellowship journey “taught me resilience and empathy”. Moreover, she grasped that starting something new is not only about results - “it is about listening, understanding, and adapting to others”. For Tafara now, social impact is a never-ending and flowing process: “It's sometimes difficult to admit that there was work at the start of it all and there will be work at the continuation of it all”. Shelton saw another perspective: "A belief in being able to effect change even with limited resources, because you are the resource”.  The Cohort's Legacy When looking back at the entire experience of the Millennium Fellowship, the cohort gets thrilled about the prospective future. Makanaka believes that “soft impact ripples through from the cohort to our peers through shared wisdom gained from the sessions”. While Divide hopes that the team’s work leaves a mark not only through events organized, but also “in the culture of commitment, courage, and care cultivated in each other”. She believes that in years from now, every fellow “will carry an imprint of the cohort in themselves”. Tadiwa added that the cohort could “become a symbol of what it means to truly support, hear, and see each other”.  Article written by: Millennium Fellows Class of 2025, University of Zimbabwe

Photo of Diana Aldabergenova Hands for Humanity  is a social impact initiative that addresses global inequalities in access to education, clean water, and child protection. The project aims to promote children’s rights and social justice through awareness campaigns, volunteer engagement, and educational outreach. I grew up believing that education is not a privilege - it is a right. That access to clean water is not luck - it is a necessity. That having a parent to guide and protect you is not a privilege - it is a fundamental part of human dignity. My initiative for equality began while volunteering as a teacher for children with disabilities. Those hours reshaped my sense of empathy and inclusion, revealing the deeper meaning of connection beyond what society deems “normal”. From there, I became involved in food drives and community programs supporting children living in poverty, carrying the initiative I began in my homeland of Kazakhstan to the United States.  Over the fall semester of 2025, I had the privilege of organizing a Social Justice Month event focused on child welfare and community action. Together with volunteers, we folded 101 origami cranes for children in need, facilitated puppy adoptions, collected toy donations, and raised $250 through a bake sale - all to support initiatives that protect and empower children. I also designed and led workshops for Pace University students on topics such as Children’s Rights , Multilateralism , and Volunteer Etiquette & Child Protection 101 , encouraging students to become advocates for equity in education and child welfare. The Millennium Fellowship introduced me to my second family, where all young leaders understand the necessity of a human-centric approach in building the future. Leadership is not about dominance or recognition - it is about serving others  with integrity and compassion. True impact begins when we lead not for ourselves, but for humanity as a whole. Why should we care about children living in poverty? Because we have the power and the obligation to make a difference. Every child holds the potential to thrive when surrounded by care, education, and safety. Poverty should never determine destiny. When we protect children, we safeguard the future of humanity itself. We are responsible for our future generation.  Article written by: Diana Aldabergenova Millennium Fellowship Class of 2025 Pace University, USA

An interview with Theophilus Venn, Millennium Fellowship Class of 2020 Adrija, Team MCN: Thank you so much for joining me today and for taking the time to share your Millennium Fellowship story and what you’ve been doing since. To begin, could you tell me a little bit about yourself?  Theophilus: I'm from Nigeria and I am a pharmacist by training and a social entrepreneur by passion. I run an agri-food brand which is into the production of healthier food options and we also provide alternatives to single-use plastics using food innovations. What we do is we provide foods that nourish the people and protect the environment all at the same time. Adrija, Team MCN: I'm curious to know how this space of social impact has been for you now that you have given so much time and effort to advance these sustainable development goals. Do you find it to be supportive? Do you find it to be isolating? How has that journey been?  Theophilus: I run a business which is impacting life, a social enterprise, Venth Ventures Limited. We are the makers of Venn biscuits and Edveen Edible Cup. Yes, an edible cup. So we’re making healthy biscuits through incorporating or fortifying it with fresh tropical fruits in order to improve quality of life while we also shape these biscuits into cups that serve as an alternative to single-use plastics. The journey has not been easy but I would say it has been rewarding because we got to understand that the best form of advocacy is actually demonstration. So what we decided to do is provide these foods that will nourish the people and protect the environment and we actually started out by providing something that the people would see, they would touch, and they would feel it in their everyday life.  Adrija, Team MCN: It is so powerful to hear how you have created a solution that is not just advancing the sustainable development goals and protects the environment but also it's fun. Could you tell me a little bit about what the future success looks like for you and for your project? Theophilus: We are building a scalable solution that tackles food insecurity and plastic pollution. We want to grow to be a leading brand in the food service industry and in the next five years, we also would like to focus on community impact as we promote the sustainable development goals. In the next five years we want to see ourselves become an export-ready brand across Africa and the global continents. This is because we want to raise our voice in global conversations around health sustainability because we believe that Africa has so much to contribute to the future in terms of food and also the planet. Adrija, Team MCN: Amazing, thank you so much for sharing that here. Coming back to the Millennium Fellowship, what made you in the first place apply to the Millennium Fellowship ?  Theophilus: I joined the Millennium Fellowship in the year 2020 as a pharmacy student from the University of Benin.  I am part of a community of students who look out for opportunities to make an impact and during that period, I noticed that colleagues from other departments were talking about the Millennium Fellowship and at that time the application window had opened. [The Millennium Fellowship] was an opportunity for me to share my ideas with like-minded change makers and connect with change makers around the world. So looking back, the journey thus far is the best decision I have made. This birthed a foundation for what I am doing as a social entrepreneur today. The biggest lesson I still carry with me is that collaboration will always beat competition. It is partnerships that make impact truly sustainable. So for me, that has been something I have been carrying all through my journey. Just start... You know why? Because little drops of water actually fill a bucket...small consistency and good actions can make the change that you desire. Adrija, Team MCN: As somebody who has also done the fellowship, is there one value that the fellowship taught you that you think that has informed how you lead? Theophilus: As a social entrepreneur, you can't do it all alone. You need to collaborate. You need mentorship. You need partnership. You also need people to believe in your idea. So for me, collaboration is key for any social enterprise. And if you would allow me to add one more, integrity is also very important. So when you are able to collaborate and you have integrity as your watchword, then I think you are on the right track to make an impact. Adrija, Team MCN: Thank you so much for sharing that. How has your vision evolved from the 2020 Theophilus to the 2025 Theophilus?  Theophilus: Like I said, the Millennium Fellowship birthed what I'm doing today. So it has not really been so easy, most especially coming in from a low income. But for us, impact is very, very essential. So even in our little way, in our little community, just in my area, I'm trying as much as possible to make an impact, to be able to influence policies just around my community in terms of mitigating problems such as pollution around my community.  Adrija, Team MCN:Brilliant. If you were talking to a Millennium Fellow who has just started the fellowship, what is the one piece of advice you would give them?  Theophilus: So if I had the opportunity to talk to my younger self, or fellows coming in, I would say, start where you are with what you have. Don't wait for the perfect condition. You know why? It never comes. So what you have now, just start. That impact you want to make, just start, learn, adjust, and keep going. You know why? Because little drops of water actually fill a bucket, little drops of water actually fills a gallon, little drops of water actually fills up a drum. So small consistency and good actions can actually make the change that you desire.  Adrija, Team MCN: I wish somebody had told this to me when I was starting the fellowship in 2021. I have one final question here, which is not essentially a question, but I want to give you the space for a call to action for the work that you're doing right now . Theophilus: My call to action is simple: support youth-led innovations. Invest in them, partner with them, open doors for them. Because when young people are empowered, they create solutions that are bold, sustainable, and transformative. Together, let’s build a world where the ideas of young changemakers don’t just survive, they thrive, and they make the planet better for all of us. Thank you. When young people are empowered, they create solutions that are bold, sustainable, and transformative. Adrija, Team MCN: Beautiful. Thank you so much, Theophilus. Is there something you would have liked to talk about about your journey that I didn't ask?  Theophilus: My project in 2020 was called Self-Help Garden Initiative, which advocated for nutrition education. Because of COVID it was difficult for people to go out. A lot of people were hungry during that period. We advocated for nutrition education, and growing vegetables and fruits just in your backyard, so that in case there's another lockdown, you don't have to start running around.  At that time, it was also providing some solution that could help with our environment, growing of trees. “Plant something and do something.” That was our little motto. When you have two or three neighbors bring together these vegetables, you can make a soup.  Then another area that I would like to speak about is opportunities for Africans in underserved, low-income communities. Yes, there are certain times that we've seen that it's been very difficult to access global opportunities, to access global speaking engagements, to access global recognition, but I want to say thank you to Millennium Fellowship, for the opportunity to raise my voice, and I want to urge other organizations to look right, into the communities. We have many change makers like myself who are relatively unknown, but they are actually doing great work within their communities, and we would want to get to the global stage so that we can do more.  Adrija, Team MCN: Amazing. I love how you put it, like learn, unlearn, and relearn, and that's how you built your movement today. Thank you so much for being with us and sharing your experience, Theophilus. Theophilus Venn  is a Class of 2020 Millennium Fellow from the University of Benin, and was recognized as an Honorable Mention of the 2025 MCN Stories competition. He joined Adrija Das of Team MCN to talk about his experience with the Millennium Fellowship. The interview has been edited for clarity and length by Team MCN.

Promise Anyanwu  is a Class of 2024 Millennium Fellow from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She also was awarded Honorable Mention  in the 2025 MCN Stories competition. Promise joined Adrija Das of Team MCN to talk about her experience with the Millennium Fellowship. The interview has been edited for clarity and length by Team MCN. Adrija, Team MCN: Thank you so much, Promise, for agreeing to meet me and talk with me. Could you first tell me a little bit about yourself? Who is Promise, and why was she interested in social impact?  Promise: I'm a final year student of health education at the University of Ibadan. And at the heart of my journey, there's this deep passion for health promotion and advocacy. Earlier on, I realized that health challenges in my community often stem from gaps in awareness and access, with people dependent on curative medicine rather than preventive. And this actually led me to initiatives like Health is Diversification, which is a rural health education program that reaches women with vital information on preventive health. And from there, I found new ways to use my voice while serving as the editor-in-chief of both my department press and the Nigerian Red Cross University of Ibadan Detachment, where I began to use media as a powerful tool for health advocacy. My leadership path expanded further when I actually served as the campus director for the Millennium Fellowship, where we united our voices around social impact and health equity. And I appreciate the power of collaboration in driving change. Currently, my work with the HPV-free future is especially meaningful through cervical cancer awareness and HPV vaccination advocacy. I'm committed to breaking barriers around reproductive health conversations, ensuring that young women and communities are empowered with accurate knowledge that can save lives. And the project has actually reinforced my belief that prevention and education are some of the most powerful tools in public health. And looking forward, I'm pursuing a product management course alongside my health education background. For me, this is not actually a detour from my original goal, but it's an intentional step to learning to design scalable solutions, manage resources effectively, and apply innovation to complex health challenges, whether it is through outreach, media, or system design. My vision is to build a career that blends both public health, communication and policy consultancy. Adrija, Team MCN: The work that you're doing is so important. What has the journey been like, what are a few challenges in the arena of social impact itself, how are you overcoming them?  Promise: Right now, my work focuses on cervical cancer prevention. And so that's actually at the heart of my Millennial Fellowship project, where we talked about cervical cancer, breast cancer, and malaria. I saw that the prevalence of cervical cancer in countries like Nigeria is actually due to systemic ignorance and misconceptions surrounding the HPV vaccination. So many believe that giving their children the vaccine is equal to giving them a free pass to promiscuity. My aim was to dispel these myths and empower parents and young people to actually make informed decisions. So my journey so far has been both satisfying and deeply challenging, because it has actually stretched me beyond what I thought I was capable of doing. It has made me break down all the walls I surrounded myself with, going outside of my comfort zone as an introvert and putting myself out there. But I'm deeply satisfied by the fact that each outreach, each awareness, each card that is filled, each vaccine that has been administered, means that one more girl has a fighting chance at life, that communities are now rethinking their stances, and adolescents who might have never had access to these vaccines are now becoming stakeholders in their own health futures, being change makers, propagating and creating a cycle where every other person around them will take their own health into their hands. And in all, this journey has actually been my greatest teacher. It has taught me patience, it has taught me resilience, and it has built an unshakable spirit of hope in me. Adrija, Team MCN: Thank you so much for sharing, Promise. Let's say, you know, with the work that you're doing with HPV Free Future in your community, say five years from now, what would success look like for you ?  Promise: Okay, with my social impact work, which is HPV Free Future, success to me would be creating a scalable product that would not just be limited to my locality and local governments around me, but something that will cut across states, local governments, where everybody will get to become stakeholders in this work, to create a ripple effect, where even the next adolescents will already have it in the back of their head that this vaccine is actually very important for them and are motivated to go to the primary health centers to get this vaccination. And I'm actually trying to build a career at the intersection of public health, health advocacy, product, and project management to improve and strengthen the culture of preventive health through HPV Free Future. I'm trying to design people-centered programs, apply design thinking and confront problems directly to make sure that in the next five years, it becomes a scalable enterprise that will cut across Nigeria to other African countries. Adrija, Team MCN: Thank you so much for sharing that. Coming back to your Millennium Fellowship journey, how did you find out about the program? What inspired you to be part of the fellowship community?   Promise: I actually first heard about the Millennium Fellowship from an acquaintance's WhatsApp status. So he actually showcased the social impact work that he was doing with his team. And I was intrigued. And it just felt like a light bulb went off in my head. Like, at this point, I already had a deep interest in health advocacy, but I didn't have a clear vision on how to go about it. And the fellowship seemed like a perfect platform: it offered skills, structure, networks, and even global communities that I needed to fully become my true self. So the journey itself was deeply transformational. The opportunity to lead over 20 fellows from different cultural, economic, and academic backgrounds stretched me in ways that I never imagined. Many of these fellows were far ahead of me in experience and even in levels. And yet they'd come to me, look for me for direction, ask questions, and all that. It was deeply humbling for me to be in that position. I had to learn that I was not here because I was better than them. It was just an opportunity for me to serve. It was my very first leadership role and since then, it has opened doors to many other leadership roles. Even now, as a study group leader in my product management track, I chased my shift in orientation back to that particular moment. The realization that I should always seek opportunities to serve and get involved, rather than just sit on the sidelines like I was used to. Some of the most valuable lessons I learned were first that solutions must be built with the communities and not for the communities. That when people become stakeholders rather than spectators, the impact is lasting. And second is that leadership is not just about titles or being the “head,” - it's about service, making people feel that they are safe, and creating an environment where other people can thrive. And the lectures, the peer network, further shaped my perception of life and my social impact. These lessons continue to guide me today in my work with HPV Free Future, and is how I envision my career at the intersection of public health, social impact, and product management. The fellowship seemed like a perfect platform: it offered skills, structure, networks, and even global communities that I needed to fully become my true self...the Millennium Fellowship helped me realize that I'm not to present myself as a savior to [the community], but as someone that is trying to work together with them to create solutions that they actually need. Adrija, Team MCN: That is so powerful to learn, and I'm so glad that was a fellowship experience for you. Is there one value that you learned during the fellowship that you carry on till this day?   Promise: It's not just one value, so I'm just trying to pick one out of the many values. But like I said earlier, it actually shaped the way I went about my social impact work because ordinarily we want to go into the community as saviors, trying to save them from impending doom. But the Millennium Fellowship helped me realize that I'm not to present myself as a savior to them, but as someone that is trying to work together with them to create solutions that they actually need. The Millennium Fellowship helped me to go into the community, look for the community's pain points, something that they actually appreciate and something that they actually need to be solved with them. The different case scenarios that were in the lectures and the slides, where instead of going to the community to give them money, they were able to create scalable initiatives that put it in their own hands, where they had to work to become stakeholders. So stories like this shaped the way I go about my social impact work.  Adrija, Team MCN: Amazing. If there was one advice you would want to give the upcoming classes of the Millennium Fellowship program, what would that be?   Promise: Make the most out of the opportunity. As the campus director, I had the opportunity to be up and center and to see a lot of my fellows. I saw different people, both the ones that came in with A-games, willing to serve. I saw the ones that just came to get the certificate. They're the ones that felt like the fellowship was going to offer them some sort of grant and they're just here for the money. But I feel like they should define their why. Why are they here? What do they hope to get out of the fellowship? And they should walk towards it. The fellowship is a platform that, when used judiciously, will reap ripple benefits in their future lives and careers, their professional lives. So if they maximize and make the best of it, it will actually show in every single thing that they do later on in life. So I would advise them to, first off, to know their whys and to let that why direct them in their four months’ journey in the fellowship.  Adrija, Team MCN: That is a very important advice to take home.To the wider audience who would be reading this blog, Promise, is there something about the work that you're doing you would like for them to know, any pointed advice for people who want to work in the space of reproductive health and preventive medicine?   Promise: So one thing I would want the fellowship to know is the fact that, unlike other types of cancers, cervical cancer can be, to a large extent, prevented as we have been able to trace  a particular variant of HPV to be one of the leading causes of cervical cancer along with other risk factors. So now that we have this in our hands, I want us to actually leverage it. So many developed and developing countries have actually adopted this and taken this seriously, but countries like Nigeria and other African countries have sort of developed a misconception around it, which is preventing us from going ahead and having a scalable vaccination drive. So I want people around us to actually take it into our own hands to, as much as possible, educate people around us, because it's collective work. It's a collective journey and we all need to take action around it, because one less person needs to suffer from this, one less family needs to go through the burden and despair of cervical cancer. So I want us to educate people around us, make sure that each girl has been vaccinated against the HPV vaccine, and we thank God that here in Nigeria the vaccine is actually free and readily available, but these same misconceptions and myths still serve as a barrier to them taking it. So I just want us to be change agents and propagators of this information to those around us, especially those in rural communities where this information is not readily available to them. Thank you.

Margaret Awoyo  is a Class of 2024 Millennium Fellow from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She also won the 2025 MCN Stories competition . Margaret joined Adrija Das of Team MCN to talk about her experience with the Millennium Fellowship. The interview has been edited for clarity and length by Team MCN. Adrija, Team MCN: Thank you so much for joining me to talk about your Millennium Fellowship story and the journey after the fellowship. Why don't you begin by telling me a little bit about yourself and who you are.  Margaret Awoyo: My name is Margaret Awoyo, I'm a Nigerian, and at my core I would say I'm a storyteller and a bridge builder. I'm very passionate about communication and social impact. For me, I grew up seeing so many brilliant young people who had dreams but not tools to achieve them. That planted in me a burden to create systems that would unlock opportunities regardless of where someone was born. Professionally I've worked in communications, branding and PR, helping organizations craft narratives that inspire people to take action. My deepest passion lies in education, empowerment, and designing ecosystems where possibility is not limited by environment. That's what has shaped my journey so far, and why I wake up every day excited to build.  Adrija, Team MCN: Could you share with us a little bit more about the work that you're doing right now and how your journey in the arena of social impact has been?  Margaret Awoyo: Okay, right now I lead the Bridging the Gap Initiative,  under Limitless Africa. We work with underserved teenagers to improve literacy, provide mentorship, and equip them with digital skills that are directly tied to opportunities. For example, earlier this year we started a book club in schools. Kids have told us, “oh, this is the first book I've ever read outside schoolwork. Oh, I understand identity better.” Moments like that have struck me, showing me how something as simple as introducing books could ignite a new horizon for a child. And on the digital side, we've introduced students to skills like video editing, writing and graphic design. One of our girls, learned graphics, started designing, and has already matched up with an industry leader. This is a reminder that when you give skills, you give dignity and responsibility.  The journey has not been easy. Resources are scarce and sustainability is always a concern. But I've learned creativity, resilience, and the power of starting with what you have. I've also seen our community and collaboration multiply impact. Working in social impact means navigating immediate resources, but finding creative ways to make lasting change.  Adrija, Team MCN: Of course. Thank you so much for sharing. Could you tell us a little bit more about your future aspirations? How do you plan to leverage the leadership and the social impact skills you have acquired in shaping the future?  Margaret Awoyo: My vision is to scale Limitless Africa into a pan-African organization that transforms how we approach education and empowerment, something that really finds access to opportunity based on creativity. I want to build student hubs that combine literacy, mentorship and digital innovation, a physical space they can walk into instead of a mobile initiative that we have to move from here to there, places where young people can learn, practice, and connect. The leadership skill I've been honing has been mobilizing people that I will use to scale this work. From my MCN journey, I learned that impact is about consistent, thoughtful steps that create ripples. My focus is on building strong, replicable systems that will impact without losing quality or depth.  From my MCN journey, I learned that impact is about consistent, thoughtful steps that create ripples. My focus is on building strong, replicable systems that will impact without losing quality or depth.  Adrija Das, Team MCN: Could you describe your Millennium Fellowship journey for us, particularly how you found out about the program and what led you to apply? And are there any learnings from your time in the program that you still carry with you till this day?  Margaret Awoyo: I found out about the  Millennium Fellowship during my undergraduate years from a friend. During the Millennium Fellowship, my project was quality education for all (QEFA). This was born out of the frustration I carried from childhood. While everyone believes education is a pathway to a better life, society has consistently failed to provide equitable access to it, especially for children in underserved communities. So QEFA was my first structured attempt to confront that disparity. I partnered with Slum2School Africa to advocate and create awareness about the access to education. We had mentorship programs for students in schools. We also had skill acquisition and we also provided psychosocial support because we were working alongside a professional psychologist to help these children in vulnerable settings.  The deeper I went, the more I realized that awareness was not enough. Inequity wasn't just about access to classrooms. It was more about access to opportunities, mentorship, and practical tools to rise above systemic barriers. It was due to that realization that I first started Bridging the Gap under Limitless Africa. In so many ways, my Millennium Fellowship project itself was the seed. But, you know, I would say bridging the gap is a tree that is still growing anyway. The vision has matured. It has become more practical, more measurable, closer to the sustainable impact I've always dreamed of.  Adrija, Team MCN: Amazing. Thank you so much for sharing that. I'm curious to know if there is one experience during the fellowship that stands out for you, and what was it? Margaret Awoyo: The fellowship was when I led my first real social impact project. But the fellowship taught me that impact is not always about skill. You know, it's about small, consistent steps that actually create change. And the campus directors then were very helpful. I still remember Gamaliel and Eniola. Millennium Fellowship opened my eyes to the fact that passion is not enough. The passion is there. It can cause you to start, you know, but sustainable systems are what sustain it. Sustainability is not something that you can take out of your project. Adrija, Team MCN: Thank you so much for sharing. As somebody who has been in the Millennium Fellowship program and continued on the path of social impact, what would be the one advice you would want Millennium Fellows to know as they prepare to enter the social impact space?  Margaret Awoyo:  Start small, but stay very consistent. When it comes to social impact there's that zeal to want to do so much, want to reach so many people, you know. But when you start to see the magnitude you can easily get overwhelmed. So don't wait until you have everything figured out. Use what you have, where you are, and even who you are, and let your vision go with you. Also understand that passion ignites the fire, but purpose is what drives it. There will be challenges, there will be doubts, and seasons of slow growth. But what will keep you grounded is the reason you started, your why. And finally, impact is not a sprint. Impact is a journey. It's something that you have to keep doing and doing. So you have to build for sustainability. Passion ignites the fire, but purpose is what drives it. Adrija, Team MCN: That was powerful, Margaret. Speaking about the work that you're currently doing, what would you want our Millennium Fellowship community to know? And if anybody's interested in working in the space of quality education, what would be any lesson or advice for them?  Margaret Awoyo: I want the communities to know that Bridging the Gap initiative under Limitless Africa is about giving young Africans the chance to dream, and build beyond the environment. We work with teenagers in underserved schools, through literacy clubs, digital empowerment programs, mentorship, and exposure opportunities. Imagine a student from a rural community, not only reading their first book, but also learning web design,  building their first website, and interning with a company. That's the kind of transformation we're creating. It's important because Africa's future depends on its young people, but too many people are left behind because of geography or lack of resources. So when we bridge this gap, we're able to unlock limitless possibilities, not just for individuals, but for the future of our continent. Transformation and impact starts with one person. You can look at the number, look what you need to solve, but you can start with one person and you don't have to cover numbers. Transformation doesn't equal numbers, actually. It's just consistency that gives you that number. If you have transformation at the core of what you're doing, you really want to make an impact. It starts with one person. Adrija, Team MCN: Wonderful. That brings us to the end of today's call. Thank you so much for sharing, Margaret!

Innocent Nsengimana  is a Class of 2024 Millennium Fellow from the University of Rwanda Nyagatare. He also was named as Runner-Up in the 2025 MCN Stories competition. He joined Adrija Das of Team MCN to talk about his experience with the Millennium Fellowship. The interview has been edited for clarity and length by Team MCN. Adrija, Team MCN: So Innocent, thank you so much for joining me today and for taking the time to share your Millennium Fellowship story and the journey after the fellowship with your community and the wider Millennium Fellowship community. To begin, could you tell me a little bit about yourself?  Innocent: Thank you for having me. I'm a graduate in the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Mechanization from the University of Rwanda. I'm passionate about using technology and sustainability to solve challenges in agriculture. I served as the campus director for the Millennium Fellowship program at the University of Rwanda. I won a run-up in the competition called MCN Stories. And also, I led my team in the Efficiency Product Design Challenge, where we were granted winners to continue our project. So those experiences have helped me to grow as a leader.  Adrija, Team MCN: Could you then tell us a little bit about the Millennium Fellowship project you were working on during the program? What challenges did you face, and what learnings from those days do you apply to today?  Innocent: I served as the campus director and was working on my own project with my team: SAS-Sprayer. SAS-Sprayer is an idea we got from the Efficiency for Access, to use renewable energy in agriculture. I also got experience from the fellowship to manage teams, to organize things, and think beyond the project and how we are solving the problem from the community needs to our own thinking.  Adrija, Team MCN: What made you apply to the fellowship program? How did you learn about this opportunity?  Innocent: This is the opportunity I got from the Millennium Fellowship community at our university.I was connected with other fellows who attended this program. I was inspired by the idea of being part of the global network of young leaders. Finally, I became selected as a fellow and I served as campus director on my campus. This was a life-changing experience, and I learned how to guide others, how to manage projects effectively, and how to create impact with limited resources. And the biggest learning I still carry today is leadership. It's about empowering others, leading together with others.  Adrija, Team MCN: Let's talk a little bit about the incredible work that you're doing right now. What has the journey been like after the fellowship program?  Innocent: Yes, currently, I'm leading a project called SAS-Sprayer. We are using the business name, which is called Agrilythos. Agrilythos is the name which joins two words: “Agriculture” and “Gritos.” Agriculture is the English name we really know. We didn't know, but gritos  is the Greek word that means “foundation.” Therefore, it's the “agricultural foundation.” So, this is the automated sprayer, which applies fertilizer and fertilizers automatically. So that small hydroponics farms can save time and reduce costs, they invest in the operation of applying fertilizers to improve their crop yield. My journey in social impact has been rewarding, but also full of learning and challenge. I have seen how technology can create new solutions for communities, but it also requires time, teamwork, patience, and listening to the needs of people. Adrija, Team MCN: Thank you so much for sharing that. What does future success look like for you? Where would you want to reach in the next five years? Innocent: Yes, in the next five years, I see myself planning a successful agri-tech startup like Agrilythos, which is under way of building, that provides affordable and sustainable farming technology to small-holder farmers. There are some solutions and ideas from the Millennium Fellowship - particularly leading with empathy and creating collective impact - that will guide me in building the organizations that are both inclusive and impactful. I also hope to keep learning from the fellowship community. Adrija, Team MCN: Thank you so much for sharing, Innocent. What would be the one thing you would want to share with the wider Millennium Fellowship community about the work that you're doing?   Innocent: Yes, my advice is to start where you are, do what you can, don't wait for perfect conditions. Use small actions, they will grow into something bigger. Be open to learning, because mistakes and challenges are part of the journey. And finally, be very humble, because no one achieves lasting impact alone. Collaboration is what makes a good idea. That's my advice. That is so incredibly powerful. Be open to learning, because mistakes and challenges are part of the journey...no one achieves lasting impact alone. Collaboration is what makes a good idea. Adrija, Team MCN: What would you want the wider Millennium Fellowship community and the young changemakers to take away about working in the sector of sustainable agriculture and ensuring food security? Innocent: Think more about the community you want to serve rather than thinking about yourself. When you are addressing the problem, the focus cannot be on the earnings in order to solve the problem. If you are solving the problem for people with empathy and passion, you also gain from that passion. So what I can give as a takeaway is to think more about community solutions than earnings. Adrija, Team MCN: Wonderful. Is there anything else you would like to share or talk about that we didn't get a chance to talk about yet?  Innocent: The fellowship was my chance to work with the community and to solve problems with my fellows. If you are interested in working for social impact in your community, try to work with mentors. And to the professionals in the MCN community, please support them. Adrija, Team MCN: Thank you. Great. Thank you so much for sharing so much about your story, your leadership journey, the work you're doing right now. I'm very sure our fellowship community, be it the current Millennium Fellows, the upcoming Millennium Fellows, our alums will be inspired and will be inspired to keep their social impact work alive.  Think more about the community you want to serve rather than thinking about yourself.

Kehinde Adebiyi , fondly known as Kenny, is a proud alumnus of the inaugural Global Millennium Fellowship class of 2018. As Campus Director for the Lagos State University (LASU) cohort, he founded SDGsACT , the first SDGs campus club in Nigeria. Under his leadership, the club’s projects impacted over 2,000 people, and Kenny later expanded its reach to campuses nationwide, inspiring thousands of student leaders to advance the global goals. Kehinde Adebiyi speaking at a Global Health and Human Rights Conference After the Fellowship, Kenny’s contributions to youth development earned him a spot as a YouthLead Ambassador, supported by USAID. He led transformative campaigns for positive youth engagement while balancing his passion for science. Graduating as one of LASU’s top scholars with a historic GPA, Kenny’s achievements became a catalyst for the Fellowship’s growing popularity in Africa. He later joined the MCN team, serving as Program Coordinator for the Class of 2020 , where he co-led a cohort that implemented over 700 projects impacting 800,000+ lives across 20 nations during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kenny has been recognized with multiple awards, including being named one of the 100 Beating Corona Heroes in Africa   and receiving the Rise Challenge Award. Now a PhD scholar at Indiana University, he continues to distinguish himself in public health and biotechnology research. As a Stier Fellow , he exemplifies global leadership in academia, science, and social impact. Kenny is also the author of Nature Pays Diligence , a motivational book that inspires students to achieve academic excellence and make meaningful contributions to their communities. Inspired by Kenny’s story? Apply to the Class of 2025 Millennium Fellowship  and begin your transformative journey today!

During my first semester as a freshman, I stumbled upon the application for the Millennium Fellowship Class of 2022. At the time, I had no idea what the Fellowship entailed, but I decided to apply anyway. Unfortunately, my application hit a roadblock: I couldn’t proceed because I hadn’t yet earned a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). Disappointed, I let it go and moved on. Oladayo Jessica Olamide  Fast forward to 2024, I received another email about the Fellowship—this time directly to my personal inbox, as I’d subscribed to their updates. Now in my third year, with a CGPA in hand, I didn’t hesitate to reapply. I advanced past the first round and reached the second stage, which required a staff recommendation. While working on that, I noticed an opening for the Campus Director role. Confident in my leadership potential, I applied for that too. Months later, I was invited to a virtual interview for the Campus Director position. I’d nearly forgotten about it, but thankfully, my calendar reminder saved the day. The interview itself was chaotic: I felt unprepared, looked (in my own words) “homeless,” and winged my answers. I left it all in God’s hands. In August, while anxiously awaiting results, I checked my email after an exam and saw the news: I’d been admitted to the Millennium Fellowship! Overjoyed, I immediately shared the update—but there was no mention of the Campus Director role. I assumed my messy interview had cost me the position, even joking about it with friends. The Fellowship stretched my capabilities in ways I’d never imagined, becoming a transformative learning ground. Then, the next day, a bigger surprise arrived: an email confirming my role as Campus Co-Director for the Millennium Fellowship at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology . Cue me frantically deleting my initial celebratory post and replacing it with the real announcement. Gratitude doesn’t even begin to cover it. My Fellowship Experience Teaming up with my Campus Co-Director, we dove into planning mode. We mapped goals, gathered our cohort, and organized a launch session where we met the Fellows for the first time. The instant bond we formed reassured me this team would make the journey seamless. Our sessions were inspiring—filled with powerful stories and discussions. But challenges emerged: coordinating schedules, structuring projects, drafting proposals, facing rejections, and pushing until approvals finally came. Through it all, I grew. The Millennium Fellowship stretched my capabilities in ways I’d never imagined, becoming a transformative learning ground. The pinnacle? Successfully executing all our projects, graduating from the program, and being featured as a Millennium Spotlight on the Millennium Campus Network’s (MCN) Instagram page. That recognition was a heartfelt reminder of how far I’d come—and all I felt was gratitude. Advice to Future Fellows Just Apply : Don’t wait until you “fully understand” the Fellowship. Take the leap—you’ll learn as you go. Lead with Purpose : The Fellowship is about social impact. Bring a heart for service and a vision for change. Embrace Resilience : Rejections and challenges are part of the process. Keep pushing, learning, and adapting. Collaborate : The connections you make are invaluable. Engage deeply, share ideas, and build lasting relationships. Enjoy the Journey : Savor every moment—the sessions, teamwork, small wins, and even the hurdles. They all shape your story. The Millennium Fellowship changed my life. If you’re considering applying, do it. This journey might just be your stepping stone to something extraordinary Testimonial written by: Oladayo Jessica Olamide  Millennium Fellowship Class of 2024, Campus Director LAUTECH, Nigeria

From August to December 2024, Millennium Fellows across the globe drove transformative change in their communities through bold, locally rooted initiatives. Over the coming weeks, these Fellows will share their stories of impact, lessons learned, and the challenges they overcame during the Millennium Fellowship program. Fellows in Eldoret, Kenya share their work fostering S.T.E.M. Equity for Persons with Disabilities. "In 2024, Millennium Fellows at the University of Eldoret (UoE) in Kenya spearheaded a group project titled Differently Enabled , which focuses on mentoring learners with disabilities to pursue S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses and careers. By raising community awareness, the project aims to dismantle stigma and stereotypes surrounding persons with disabilities (PWDs). In many African countries and beyond, societal norms often restrict PWDs to predefined career paths, limiting their potential. The misconception that PWDs cannot excel in S.T.E.M. fields perpetuates inequality, marginalization, and mental health challenges. Aligned with SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities), the University of Eldoret cohort designed this project with the following objectives: Bridging the gap between disabled and abled individuals. Empowering PWDs to explore sustainable livelihood opportunities. Organizing workshops to sensitize communities and foster safer environments for PWDs. Creating inclusive spaces where PWDs feel valued in societal growth and development. To implement this initiative, the cohort visited the Eldoret School for the Hearing-Impaired, a public special education institution in Eldoret East, Kenya. Managed by local government authorities, the school offers the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) under the Ministry of Education. This project holds significant potential to promote inclusive education and sustainable livelihoods for People living with Disabilities. During their visit, the fellows met Tr. Joel, an enthusiastic math teacher and mentor who is deaf himself. A 2022 mathematics graduate from Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Tr. Joel exemplified the potential of PWDs in S.T.E.M. fields. Eldoret University Millennium Fellows with Tr. Joel The project’s second phase took place in October 2024, with the cohort mentoring Junior Secondary students through interactive sessions and co-curricular activities. The mentorship emphasized S.T.E.M. disciplines, with each fellow highlighting their motivations, the importance of S.T.E.M., career inspirations, and how students can defy limitations by pursuing these fields. During the sessions, the cohort learned sign language, gained insights into the students’ aspirations, and identified challenges faced by the deaf community. This knowledge will inform future follow-up programs to maximize impact. Key takeaways included: Teamwork and shared values : Collaboration between fellows, the university, and the school. Learning before serving : Engaging directly with PWDs to understand their needs rather than making assumptions. Contextualizing morality : Balancing societal norms with ethical action. Empowering youth : Providing tools and resources for PWDs to chart their own paths. Shared responsibilities : Leveraging individual strengths and leadership styles within the team. This project holds significant potential to promote inclusive education and sustainable livelihoods for PWDs. The University of Eldoret Millennium Fellowship cohort remains committed to expanding its impact through ongoing partnerships and mentorship beyond the Fellowship period."

Aya - it’s such an honor to meet you. Please tell us a bit about yourself “ My name is Aya Yousef, a 4th year architecture student at the American University of Beirut . I am passionate about Social Change and Social Activism. This year, I was named a Top 50 finalist for the 2021 Global student prize . I am Palestinian, but I grew up at the Burj el Barajne camp in Lebanon. I’m currently embarking on a Self - finding, Self-independence journey - trying to make sense of the world around me, take risks, and take care of myself - whether that’s emotionally, mentally or financially. ” Thank you for sharing that with us. Could you tell us a little bit about your time and experience as a Millennium Fellow? “ I was a Class of 2019 Millennium Fellow at AUB. I’ve always credited this experience as one of my first genuine opportunities to connect and network with International peers who were passionate about the same things I was. At the time, our university was the only campus selected in Lebanon - so there was that added pride. My whole cohort was very motivated, all of them eager to give back as much as they could within the short time that they’d been given. In hindsight, I would say the most important part of the Fellowship was this opportunity to connect, network and interact with thousands of other young people across the world . Sometimes networking is not even connecting 1:1 - it’s in hearing their perspectives in a breakout room, reading about their project ideas, and being motivated by that shared, familiar, hunger for change. You start to think more expansively about local challenges, and in a sense you learn a bit about yourself from this shared space. After graduation I started to build upon these personal skills and, I think, made myself an even more holistic person. So there certainly was a shift during and after the Fellowship - whether that’s psychologically or purely in terms of self improvement and up-skilling." That’s wonderful to hear. Can you tell us a bit about the SDG you focused on and your Millennium Fellowship Project? “Certainly, I led a project called “ Pales-Tech ” with another Millennium Fellow - Hany anan - who was also Palestinian. We both understood the pains and the hardships our people were going through, and how unfairly lack of resources and little exposure to opportunities was condemning young Palesitininians to lives of averageness. We both had found a way to escape this cycle but many others couldn't. We had to give back to our community. And so by focusing on the underprivileged youth and children in the camps, we provided technical training in the use of tech tools, such as wordpress. The point for us was to make young Palestinians realize that we can use technology to solve many problems in our lives and our societies. We hosted a series of workshops in different palesitnian camps in lebanon, and the final presentations were done at the American University of Beirut.” How did your experiences growing up shape you to want a life in Social Impact? It’s sad that society demands exceptionalism from us so we can live decent, average lives. “I was born in Burj-El-Barajneh, a refugee camp for Palestinians in Lebanon. Throughout my whole journey growing up, constantly shifting from one school to the other, I got to experience first hand what it was like to truly lack. Truly undignifying. In high school it dawned on me how fundamentally unequal this societal setup was. Though I excelled in my studies, for a long time I could not find any opportunities to further my education. This makes you wonder - what is wrong with us? And how can we work to bridge the gap? Though I’d eventually end up receiving 3 scholarships at some of the best universities in Lebanon - these observations stuck with me. In the end, I did get scholarships, but I’d also put in great personal effort. In a sense, I was the subject of a lucky break that many other kids around me simply couldn’t dream about getting. I t’s sad that society demands exceptionalism from us so we can live decent, average lives. Many children and young people don’t know that opportunities even exist, and even those that do are conditioned to believe opportunity belongs to others. Because I ended up experiencing this big, beautiful world, I always wanted to show the kids that a big beautiful world does exist, and it is within their reaches. I joined the outreach team for my school scholarship, and I also partnered with 2 other change makers to co-found “ ToRead ”, an online education program linking High School students with educational institutions and providing information about potential scholarships. I will never stop looking for better - for my people, and for all oppressed people around the world. That is humbling to hear. Are there any other projects you’ve been working on recently? ‘My family and friends have always known me as a multitasker. Since I graduated from the fellowship I've involved myself in many different projects. After the Beirut blast, we volunteered with social groups to help plan the recovery by surveying, analyzing and studying some buildings damaged by the explosion, and creating a series of architectural drawings that, hopefully, benefitted renovation efforts. One of the buildings we worked on has now been fully reconstructed. We also worked with a local NGO, D4C ( Design For Communities ) focusing on food insecurity by working on a rooftop gardening architectural design that would maximize planting and production, whether on rooftops, balconies, or even open spaces. I also worked on an augmented reality course with a young enterprise called Shabab Lab, where we prepared courses for high school students, teaching the basics of Augmented reality and how it can be used for social innovation. Incredible! Can you tell us a little bit about your nomination ins this year’s Global Student prize? “Totally incredible! I’m still speechless. When we do the work we do, it is mostly because we genuinely care about our communities - so we sacrifice time and energy to try make things better, without the expectation of an accolade, or even an affirmation. But sometimes that spotlight is important, if not for anything else, just as a reminder that what you’ve been doing matters, that it’s touching real lives and impacting real people. For me, the nomination was incredibly humbling. At that moment I felt that every minute we’d spent doing work for the benefit of others had been worth it. I think more importantly,I’m also happy that young people can look at us and think, it can be done. Lastly, any advice to young Leaders around the world? “I would say get involved! It’s easy and convenient to sit in silence and avoid responsibility. But we can’t afford to do that. Stand up and be counted. Interact with people. Let yourself become a true member of your community. And remember you can always play a part, no matter how small. Connect with Aya on LinkedIn and Instagram Share your Impact stories with us here: fellowship@mcnpartners.org

Haya Al-Kubati , an undergraduate medical student at the 21 September University of Medical and Applied Sciences in Sana’a-Yemen, is a passionate advocate for the SDGs. She is especially interested in good health and well-being, mental health awareness, and disease prevention. Haya gained an interest in volunteering and social activism as a young girl and has been involved in the work for 9 years. She has launched several social impact projects targeting young people in Yemen, including raising awareness on climate change to ongoing school children, and implementing Cancer awareness campaigns in her community. As Class of 2023 Millennium Fellows, Haya and her team conducted breast cancer self-examination exercises for more than 300 high school girls. She also volunteered with youth from 24+ countries as a member of the organizing committee of the International Volunteering Youth Forum . Haya is a Catalyst 2030 Yemen chapter member, a Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange program YES alumna, and a former youth member of the Yemeni Youth Volunteering Committee with the Yemeni Association of Reproductive Health where she has helped conduct more than 6 social action campaigns targeting youths, women and children. She is also a Yemen country ambassador with Awareness 360  (a global youth-led organization advancing sustainable development through youth empowerment ) and 2021 fellow of the year with Awareness 360. Haya is a Recipient of the title Arab Voice Ambassador 2022  by the Arab Youth Center in Abu Dhabi with her podcast Youth and Sustainability which introduces the SDGs to Yemeni youth and addresses youth challenges. Recently a 2023 Diana Award recipient. Following her Millennium Fellowship work, she was named a MENA regional focal point with the Sendai Stakeholder Children and Youth (DDR working group ). She spoke with Team MCN to share her Millennium Fellowship journey. Thank you for speaking with us Haya. Please introduce yourself and share what inspired you to begin social impact work? "Thank you for having me. My name is Haya. I started my Social Impact journey during my exchange year in the United States through the YES program when I was just 15 years old. I have since spent time volunteering on multiple grassroots initiatives, associations, and medical awareness teams. I have also launched my own social impact projects, including most recently as part of the Millennium Fellowship, and in the past through global youth-led organizations like Awareness 360. I have always felt as a young person growing up in Yemen, it is my responsibility to try my best to make my country a better place." "The lessons on setting core values for our projects and ensuring we centre these values in our work are things I will carry with me even as I graduate from the Fellowship."   Thank you for sharing. You were selected to the Millennium Fellowship in 2023 having shown incredible leadership potential. What has the experience meant for you? "It is difficult to explain. The Millennium Fellowship was an enriching journey for me. Last year I came across the Fellowship and immediately wanted to be part of it. I knew we needed to apply as a cohort to stand a chance, so I spent time going around the school, inviting and encouraging my schoolmates to apply. Eventually enough of us ended up submitting applications, and upon selection I was named Campus Director. Holding this role made me feel empowered, trusted, and inspired. I was able to coordinate training sessions, support Fellows on their projects, and generally create an environment where everyone felt like they were part of a small family . I value what this fellowship has offered me. I say to all students at my school looking to apply that the training will only be a semester-long, but the lessons learnt will last me a lifetime." Amazing. Please take a moment to Introduce your Millennium Fellowship project. What problem does your project try to solve? "Of course! My project " But first! Mental health " aims to shed light on the importance of mental health among medical students. We are focusing particularly on helping med students cope during the transition period from their academic training into clinical rotations. This is usually an exciting but tough time because it is very demanding and you get to see things that can be very traumatizing. Most healthcare practitioners are prone to mental health issues due to the demanding nature of this speciality. It is a noble profession, but it can sometimes carry much negative weight. I hope to help destigmatize seeking psychological support, and create spaces where we can normalize talking about the troubles we all collectively face. Our well-being has to come first before we can take care of others, hence my project name - 'But First! Mental health"  "I hope to help destigmatize seeking psychological support, and create spaces where we can normalize talking about the troubles we all collectively face." That's wonderful. All the best as you continue this mission. How did the Millennium Fellowship contribute to your achievements?  The Millennium Fellowship program has helped me learn about my leadership ability. Being in charge of an incredible cohort was a big honour and responsibility. It has also helped me understand the basics of social impact leadership . I appreciate that the curriculum focuses on teaching you how to build up your grassroots initiative, taking a social impact project from ideation to execution. The lessons on setting core values for our projects and ensuring we centre these values in our work are things I will carry with me even as I graduate from the Fellowship.   Connect with Haya on LinkedIn . Millennium Fellows and alumni, would you like to share your story with the community? Get in touch: ( alumni@mcnpartners.org )

Angela Zhong , an alumnus of the Millennium Fellowship, Class of 2021 attended the COP28 last fall. She is an undergraduate at Harvard studying economics and environmental science public policy. Angela is originally from Houston, Texas, and was inspired to get involved in climate work after facing several environmental health hazards and natural disasters. "This November marked my second anniversary in the international youth climate space! My first event was the Conference of Youth 16 ahead of COP26 in 2021. Being back at COP again in 2023 provides a pivotal setting to reflect on my engagement. In the past two years, I have been so fortunate to meet youth from around the world, advocate for the causes I believe in, and learn about various theories of change. I think that my experience, while accelerated by a gap year spent at many conference halls, is one that is universal to the youth who are participating in this year’s COP28. I could talk at length about the sheer learning that takes place by being in proximity of so many of the best minds on climate, or the immense struggle to demand institutional change during a crisis. I would highlight those as some of the key takeaways of being at the COP in general. But I would like to focus on something that this specific COP28 has imprinted on me: the sense of community that I am grateful for. I h ear that, a decade ago, youth participation at high-level conferences such as COPs was scarce. Today, “youthwashing” is still most definitely an issue. The polity of the Blue Zone where the negotiations that happen are still not representative of the constituencies that are supposedly served. I cannot count how many times I was invited to contribute to the conversation as the only person under 35 and for the sole purpose of justifying why young people’s presence is necessary. It is a frustrating and unfortunate reality. But even in these past two years, I have seen change. I have received faith and in turn have more faith that these heavy, heavy doors are cracking open wider. During my time in Dubai, I was fortunate enough to reconnect with old friends and newly connected with many leaders from around the world. I also met up with other youth who were attending for the first time and had no idea what to expect. I am somewhere in between those two ends, and I see a bit of myself in both of those versions.  Having been at COP three times now, I am more familiar with the language surrounding the types of strategies youth use to mobilize (direct actions, interventions, bilaterals, and more). I understand what it means to ask questions like, “What are you following?” and answer with terms such as “Article 6.2.” I even share my knowledge by participating in panels like this one, something that I was not comfortable with doing at the start.  But, flying over Glasgow as I draft this blog, I still vividly remember how overwhelming the experience was as a nineteen-year-old, making my first international solo trip and not knowing if this was even real.  After repeated confirmation, I can assure those who have not yet been that this world is real – a venue where youth gather, strategize, educate, inspire, and create change." Thank you Angela for sharing your COP28 experience with the community. Connect with Her on LinkedIn . Alumni, share your stories with us here: ( alumni@mcnpartners.org )

Thanks for taking the time to share your Millennium Fellowship story with the community. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself - who is Danielle Mikaelian? My name is Danielle Mikaelian . I was raised in Thousand Oaks, CA and attended public school before attending Columbia University in New York. Growing up, I learned that my family history was one of resilience. As a descendant of Armenian Genocide survivors who fled to the United States, I feel very privileged to be attending Harvard Law School. My ancestors could not have dreamed that I would have these types of opportunities after they lost everything.  Growing up, I was involved in Armenian organisations like the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief and the Armenian Church Youth Organization . Upon coming to New York, I joined the Armenian Youth Federation’s New York chapter and became the president of Columbia University’s Armenian Society. I simultaneously became a leader on Columbia’s campus, serving on over ten university executive boards. One highlight was serving as Wellness Chair for the Office of University Life. In this role, I oversaw the university's mental health and wellness efforts, spearheading events like Succulent Study Break and Paint the Night. Beyond this, I served on the Columbia College Student Council Campus Life Committee. Upon graduation, I was recognised as Columbia’s 2021 Student of the Year in recognition of my campus contributions. I also received the Robert Harron Award, a King’s Crown Community Leadership and Excellence Award, and was a Multicultural Graduation Cord recipient. After graduating, I worked as a Government Affairs Intern for the Armenian National Committee of America’s Western Region. In this role, I primarily worked as an Armenian advocate for the Armenian community, corresponding with politicians to advocate for Armenian issues.  I am currently a third-year student at Harvard Law School, where I was named  “Most Involved” by my first year section.” I’ve served on the boards of numerous organisations at Harvard, from the Harvard Association of Law and Business to the Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law. After graduating, I will be working in corporate law at a large transactional law firm.  Thank you for sharing! Could you tell us about your future aspirations, how do you you plan to leverage the in leadership and social impact skills you are sharpening now in future?  I am currently a 3L at Harvard Law School. As a law student, I hope to use my words to drive positive change for different communities. I am particularly interested in promoting gender equality and remain committed to mentoring the next generation of students pursuing higher education. In this regard, I routinely speak at colleges across the country helping provide advice on navigating university admissions processes. As someone who had to teach myself how to navigate college and law school application processes, I recognise the importance of mentorship and enjoy passing on the knowledge I’ve gained through my educational journey.  Beyond this, I am particularly passionate about helping younger Armenians. As the descendant of orphaned Armenian Genocide survivors, I recognise that I have gained access to opportunities that my ancestors would have never dreamed of. Armenians are few in number at top educational institutions, and I have personally spoken to various Armenian organizations to help mentor the next generation. I also mentor younger students interested in pursuing law, speaking to clubs at schools like UCLA and Berkeley.  In addition, I hope to continue my work on gender equality. My Millennium Fellowship project revolved around gender equality. I am currently a 2024 Fellow at an organisation called Ms. JMshat, which is dedicated to the success of women in law school and the legal profession. As someone starting my career in corporate law, I recognise that female representation declines as associates spend more years within the legal profession and strive to make partner . Women now make up around 50% of law firm associates but only 27.76% of partners. I hope to help promote female representation in legal and  other industries as I continue my career.  That's incredible. Do you have any words of advice to can share specifically with Millennium Fellows but generally with young people worldwide who are equally passionate about change-making? First, you are never too young or inexperienced to evoke long-lasting change. Also, I would recommend that younger students find mentors who can support them and provide advice along the way. I’m part of a startup and entrepreneurship class at Harvard Business School this semester called FieldX, and one main takeaway is that most ideas don’t start in their final form. Any proposed ideas likely need to be reworked to some extent, and having mentors around you will help you tweak your ideas to the extent necessary.  The Millennium Fellowship centres on empathy, humility, and inclusion as guiding values. As you reflect on your leadership and journey, are there ways these values have helped shape the leader you are today? My leadership revolves around giving back and positively impacting any community I find myself in. As someone who has served in various leadership roles, I know it is essential to look beyond yourself and do what you can to improve the world for those around you. In this regard, I attempt to centre other voices while dedicating my time to helping others as they navigate their journeys. As busy as my school schedule can be, I actively mentor younger students, whether through taking the time to edit someone’s essay before they submit it to a school or hop on a call to provide insight into the law school application process.  Could you describe your Millennium Fellowship journey, how you found out about it, and what led you to apply? Are there any learnings from your time in the program that you still carry with you today? I joined the Millennium Fellowship as a student at Columbia University. As I mentioned, I've always been actively involved in advocacy work for the Armenian community. I was Columbia’s Armenian Society President at the time, reactivating and growing the organisation to over forty members. Joining the Millennium Fellowship helped me further my advocacy work and become part of a passionate community of changemakers.  The program solidified my desire to connect communities worldwide and pursue advocacy work. Often, programs are limited to a specific area or country. The Millennium Fellowship bridges these divides and allows young, dynamic individuals to connect with otherworldly, passionate changemakers. It’s an unparalleled program, and I’m grateful to have participated.  What was your Millennium Fellowship project? Could you tell us about the motivations behind launching it and how that vision has evolved since graduating in 2020? My Millennium Fellowship Project was the Wonder Woman Project, which highlighted the global disparities women face due to gender barriers. As an Armenian woman, I have always been particularly cognizant of gender barriers and have actively worked to spotlight them while proposing potential solutions. At Columbia, I founded and served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Columbia Women in Law and Politics Journal to highlight gender barriers in law. Through the Wonder Woman Project, I expanded the scope of my gender equality work and interviewed women worldwide about their challenges in advancing their careers.  My dedication to female success has not stopped there. As an Armenian woman, I am particularly cognizant of gender barriers. I am currently a 2024-2025 Ms. JD Fellow, attending events and speaking on panels about women’s legal status. I have also served on the Harvard Women’s Mentorship Committee and spoken to groups of female prelaw students at various undergraduate schools. That is powerful! Could you speak about the social impact work you are involved in now and share what are you looking forward to in the near future? My social impact work is focused on several different sectors. For one, I’m extremely passionate about the educational space and providing students with the knowledge to navigate any university environment successfully. As an undergraduate, I launched a nonprofit college admissions consulting initiative, helping students from minority and underserved backgrounds. I also run a “Student Advice Corner” column for The Armenian Report. I’ve done everything from Reddit AMAs to webinars on the admissions process, helping students receive advice that will help them navigate their educational journeys.  Today, I continue to spotlight women's experiences in the legal profession. For instance, I recently wrote a paper on the rise of female managing partners at law firms in the US. Ladtly, how has your challenging but important activism work shaped you? As the descendant of Armenian Genocide survivors, I am, first and foremost, an advocate for the Armenian people. I have become aware that I will always be one of the only Armenians in any environment I find myself in. My activism work has encouraged me to be resilient while doing my best to be a positive role model for members of my ethnic group. When people see the name “Danielle Mikaelian,” with the “Ian” last name ending that is emblematic of  being Armenian – I want them to think of someone who worked relentlessly to help the Armenian community while doing her best to be a positive role model to those around her.  Danielle Mikaelian is an Armenian advocate with a BA in English Literature from Columbia University. She is originally from Southern California. As a Millennium Fellow, she spearheaded The Wonder Woman Project. Today, Danielle is a third year at Harvard Law School. Danielle Mikaelian has occupied roles at Harvard, including Chief of Staff for the Harvard Association of Law and Business, Co-Managing Print Editor for the Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law, and Co-President of the Armenian Law Students Association. She is passionate about the written word and is a published poet. Beyond this, she writes a column for a publication called The Armenian Report called “Student Advice Corner”. She often speaks to undergraduate organizations to advise the next generation of law school applicants. Danielle Mikaelian plans to move to New York and work at a transactional law firm after graduating.  Connect on LinkedIN

Thank you for joining us today Audry. Can you begin by telling us a little bit about yourself and your background? "Of course, thank you. My name is Audry Chivanga , from Zimbabwe. Growing up, I witnessed several social problems in my community, from an incredibly poor healthcare system to widespread poverty. I think seeing these issues all around me as a little girl ignited something in me. From a young age I became obsessed with finding solutions to local problems. I studied in Harare and I finished my advanced level in 2021, and after that I was blessed to get a place at the African Leadership University in Rwanda under the Mastercard Foundation scholarship studying software engineering." I like to think that my personal triumph paved the way for many. Incredible. As a university student studying in Rwanda, what led you to apply to the Millennium Fellowship?   "As I had mentioned, I have been passionate about community upliftment but I never rooted my work in the Sustainable Development goals - that is to say I had heard about the SDGs but I could not tell you anything about them. So when I saw the Millennium Fellowship’s call for applications and what the program offers, I saw this as my chance to be theoretically empowered by learning about the SDG framework, and at the same time be practically engaged by implementing a social impact project. I decided to apply, get the skills, and be empowered to tackle my project and create meaningful impact. I wanted to understand the topic of social impact in general so that I knew the right direction to follow. Through the Millennium Fellowship, I feel more confident and empowered enough. As we learnt in the curriculum, there is a difference between being helpful and helping - I needed to learn these lessons so I could be the best leader for myself and my community." When I saw the Millennium Fellowship’s call for applications and what the program offers, I saw this as my chance to be theoretically empowered by learning about the SDG framework, and at the same time be practically engaged by implementing a social impact project. Do you mind telling us more about your project with Africa Innovative Network? Growing up in Zimbabwe, I used to see how rich our country was, mainly in youth, but at the same time, there were a lot of problems, like I mentioned earlier. What troubled me was that despite the youth being the largest and most energetic demographic group, all we could do about the issues ailing us was to complain. There was too little action. I realized there were very few true communities of support for those of us who were quietly passionate about making a change. That is when I got the idea of creating a platform where we could connect our different talents to our different potentials. This rapidly grew to become a community for us to innovate and have open discussions on how we can solve problems. In having these open discussions, the most prevalent, 'low hanging fruit' that sparked my interest was a problem many of us saw in our communities- long queues in African hospitals. One time I was at a health facility, and I witnessed the death of an African child in a queue right in front of me. This experience was shocking. After enrolling to study software engineering, I realized my skills might not be enough and a community might just be what I needed. The journey of creating change is more of a ‘we’ than ‘I’. The healthcare sector of my country, for example, requires a multi-stakeholder approach involving people of different expertise. The most important thing is for us to collaborate, stop complaining about the problems we see and start acting on them. So as a Millennium Fellow, I started the African innovative community to do this. Currently, we have a network of 200-250 young people from different African countries. The project started by asking questions like- What if we start making things happen here? What if we start collaborating? So now we evolved to encourage each other to solve local problems in their communities? For example, someone in search of a website developer can come on the platform and since it is a collaboration platform, people can contribute. This way, you don't have to build a solution for a whole problem alone. Our project has been recognized by the national newspaper of Zimbabwe, the Herald . The "African Innovative Community" was not just an initiative; it was the embodiment of a dream. A dream where African youths were armed with knowledge, innovation, and the tools to create change. Structured themes like "Innovative Monday" and "Futuristic Friday" were designed to mold a proactive and innovative mindset among its members. This initiative directly aligns with several of the SDGs including Quality Education (SDG 4), Gender Equality (SDG 5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9). By targeting these SDGs, the community is not only pushing for individual growth but is also contributing to a sustainable, inclusive, and empowered Africa for all. This is an amazing project! Can you tell us about your experience as a Millennium Fellow generally, how has the journey shaped you? I'm humbled to say that I experienced a real mindset change as a Fellow. In as much as I was always engaging with the community to try to solve problems, the Millennium Fellowship changed my perspective on identifying problems and the way I try to solve them. So these decisions improved me as a person. During the Fellowship, I learned about building human-centered solutions and involving community members in all decision-making processes. So it helped in changing my perspective. So it was my time to transform my mind to see solving problems differently. Thank you very much. So the next question I would like to ask is, what is your biggest advice to, prospective millennium fellows that want to apply for the next course? To prospective Millennium Fellows, I would say as they implement their projects, in as much as they want to impact many lives, they should know that it's not about the quantity but the quality. You can impact very few people and that impact will be felt significantly. So they should focus on the quality of the project more than the numbers they have. Be content with the quality of work you are pouring into your community. Connect with Audry on LinkedIn .

Millennium Fellowship alumnus Ernest Mugisha was named a 2022 Chegg Global Student Prize top 50 nominee. He speaks with us about his time as a Millennium Fellow and life as a student at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture. Thank you for joining us Mugisha. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Thank you so much. My name is Ernest Mugisha, a Millennium Fellowship alumnus from the Rwandan Insitute of Conservation and Agriculture. I would describe myself as a leader, an optimist, a social entrepreneur and an industrious person passionate about social impact. Where did your interest and passion for social impact start stem from? I must connect my passion for social impact with my personal background. I was born and raised in a very remote Rwandan district, in an unstable area bordering Burundi and the DRC. Growing up we had very limited access to education, health care and other basic needs. We grappled with poverty and exclusion for as long as I remember. Seeing what that level of poverty does to your community shapes you as a child. Despite all this, I was lucky to be academically gifted, and always saw myself as being able to achieve something great for myself, my family, my friends and the wider community. In High School I felt deeply drawn to social impact work and started engaging in a lot of projects. I was constantly inspired by the Rwandese youth who were doing a lot of positive things around me - and it challenged me to also do the same. I started serving my country by launching multiple social impact initiatives, and I've never looked back since. After high school you enrolled in the Rwanda Insitute for Conservation Agriculture. Tell us about your time at RICA. RICA is a higher institution in Rwanda that's serving the new generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders in agriculture, with the aim of transforming the agricultural sector in our country, East Africa, and Africa at large. Being a student at RICA has been the biggest blessing in my life - although I did not initially plan to study here, nor to pursue a career in agriculture. I was interested in Computer science, awed by all the technological developments taking over the world and wanting to be a part of the tech revolution. But thinking about the small, heavily agricultural district I’d come from, I wondered whether that was my true calling. Right now, 70% per cent of the working population in Rwanda, and 60% of the African population depends on agriculture for its livelihood. Communities here depend on agriculture for our survival. My high school dream was to study at an American university, but RICA came in and offered me a full scholarship to learn more about agriculture and conservation. This was a mindblowing opportunity. Considering my background, I couldn’t pay for tuition fees at university, so the chance to study free of charge at one of the premier African universities was life-changing. As mentioned earlier, I’d also understood that the single most urgent and most pertinent need in Africa was to tackle starvation and make our continent hunger-free. RICA is a world-class university that has exposed me to people of diverse backgrounds from around the world. It is paperless and state-of-the-art, combining outstanding education, high-quality resources, and world-class faculty - making it one of the continent’s foremost institutions. Being here and seeing so many people from so many different places passionate about agricultural solutions has challenged and motivated me to work relentlessly for my country and continent. Among the many opportunities I learnt about while here was the Millennium Fellowship, which has played a pivotal role in my development as a social entrepreneur. Tell us about your time as a Millennium Fellow. How did that experience shape your personal journey? When I read about the Millennium Fellowship for the first time, I immediately wanted to be a part of it. The strong focus on social impact, leadership development, and partnership with the United Nations Academic Impact strongly appealed to me and my peers. As a Millennium Fellow, I got the platform to connect with a global community of youth leaders and to share my ideas with the world. The scale of our class made me feel that I was truly part of a movement. At out Global Town Hall ceremony, I had a chance to interact virtually for the first time with like-minded students from outside my country. Seeing young people in Nigeria, Hong Kong, the USA, and more celebrate together made me feel deeply inspired. Being able to hear from His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon , Sam Vaghar , and other social impact leaders was life-changing, and it only served to convince me that social entrepreneurship was my path. As a Fellow, I appreciated the strong focus on purpose-driven leadership in the curriculum, and the incredible network of outstanding undergraduates. During the Fellowship training sessions, I got to interrogate my purpose, find meaning in my work, understand my role as a young leader in advancing the SDGs, and came out a better social entrepreneur. Today I remain connected with my class of Millennium Fellows through our Alumni platform, and it makes me happy to see everything they’re doing around the world. Tell us a little bit more about your Fellowship project My project, Pangelassa revival is derived from a combination of two words. The first one is Pangea, and the second is Panthalassa. It refers to a new interconnected world, free of separation, exclusion, racism, and more. This project aims at solving the social exclusion in East African communities and providing social prosperity, particularly for refugees. We’re designing systems that make it easy to provide opportunities and donations to the elderly and the displaced by removing barriers. Organisations on the Pangelassa platform are offering employment priority to refugees in Rwanda, and members are donating to the needy directly. We are currently based in two districts and expanding into Kigali, having impacted 1,500+ people so far. In the next 3-5 years we hope to impact up to 5000 lives across Rwanda, Uganda, DRC and other East African nations. Watch full interview with Ernest below: Connect with Ernest Mugisha on LinkedIn

Ariel Zhao is a Class of 2021 Millennium Fellowship alum currently serving as a student liaison at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In May 2024, Ariel helped organize an event titled "Youth Empowerment and Shaping the Future of Public Health and Sustainable Development" , a critical conversation on global health challenges, youth advocacy, and the Sustainable Development Goals. The session brought together a panel of experts, including MCN Executive Director Sam Vaghar ; and Dr. Awa Coll Seck , former minster of health in Senegal. Ariel wrote this article reflecting on the event and lessons learnt. "I recently spearheaded a virtual event bringing together young leaders, global health experts, and advocates to discuss the critical role of youth in tackling global health challenges .  This event, held on May 6th, focused on how young people can effectively contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event aimed to ignite dialogue, inspire action, and build connections among a global audience. The event featured a panel discussion facilitated by Ariel Zhao and moderated by MCN Executive Director Sam Vaghar, with Dr. Awa Marie Coll Seck, former Minister of Health of Senegal, as the esteemed panelist. Dr. Coll Seck, renowned for her work in combating infectious diseases and strengthening health systems in Senegal, brought a wealth of experience to the conversation. Mr. Vaghar, a champion of youth leadership and the driving force behind the MCN's global network of empowered young leaders, offered a unique perspective on the power of collaboration and mentorship. The Birth of a Movement: Sam's Reflection on The Millennium Campus Network's journey It all began in a university dorm room.  Inspired by the work of Dr. Paul Farmer and Partners in Health, and Jeffrey Sachs' "The End of Poverty," a group of students, led by Sam Vaghar, recognized the immense challenges facing the world, but also the potential for young people to make a difference. This spark ignited the Millennium Campus Network (MCN), a now-thriving network of 268 universities across 38 countries, empowering young leaders to tackle the Sustainable Development Goals in their communities. MCN now provides a platform for young people to connect with each other, share ideas, and develop their leadership skills. The network offers a range of programs and resources to support young leaders, including mentorship opportunities, workshops, and funding for their projects. Fresh Perspectives, Authentic Leadership, and Sustainable Solutions: Reflecting on the panel The panel discussion delved into three key themes: Young Voices, Fresh Perspectives: The Need for Inclusion:  Dr. Coll Seck emphasized that young people are not just beneficiaries of global health initiatives, but crucial contributors. She highlighted the effectiveness of youth-led programs and the importance of a "bottom-up" approach to finding solutions. "Young people bring a fresh perspective, a connection to the realities on the ground," Dr. Coll Seck said, stressing the critical need to include young people in decision-making processes, ensuring their voices are heard and respected in the global health landscape. She shared the success story of her initiative, the Forum on Health Innovations in Africa, which brings together young leaders to network, learn, and collaborate on initiatives. This forum provides a platform for young people to connect, build relationships, and learn from each other and from seasoned experts in the field. Building Trust Through Authentic Leadership: Mentorship and Guidance:  While acknowledging the inspirational power of established leaders, Sam Vaghar, Executive Director of MCN, emphasized the need for authentic leadership and mentorship within young people's immediate surroundings. He highlighted the challenges young leaders face when seeking mentorship from established professionals, noting that many young people feel ignored or disregarded in their attempts to connect with experienced leaders. Dr. Coll Seck echoed this sentiment, stressing that genuine leaders should be accessible, actively listen to young people, and understand the challenges they are facing. She highlighted the importance of actively reaching out to young people, engaging them in meaningful ways, and recognizing their value as contributors to the larger effort. Empowering Sustainability: Community-Centered Solutions:  The discussion transitioned to the critical role of young people in driving sustainable practices within their communities. Dr. Coll Seck highlighted innovative approaches to addressing poverty, climate change, and other urgent issues. She emphasized the importance of understanding and addressing community needs as a core criterion for success, ensuring that innovations are truly valuable and relevant to the community. Dr. Coll Seck shared a compelling example of a young entrepreneur who addressed a real need in his community: He recognized that local farmers were struggling to preserve milk, resulting in significant waste and financial loss. He therefore leveraged his agricultural knowledge to create a system for collecting, sterilizing, and preserving milk, ultimately establishing a successful business that benefited both the farmers and the community. Mentorship, Opportunities, and Building a Global Network The discussion explored how to connect young leaders with opportunities and support their growth.   Ariel Ackermann asked Dr. Coll Seck for advice on how to help students who are passionate about public health find their start and confirm their career path. Dr. Coll Seck emphasized the importance of starting somewhere and being resilient, acknowledging that finding the right path can be a journey of exploration and experimentation. Dr. Coll Seck suggested that volunteering can be a valuable way for young people to gain experience, build connections, and open doors to new opportunities. Sam Vaghar on the other hand advocated for a two-pronged approach: building local leadership through peer mentorship and increasing awareness of global opportunities through platforms like the Millennium Fellowship. He emphasized the long-term return on investment in young people, highlighting the potential to shape the next half-century of impact by empowering them today. A Call to Action: Supporting Youth-Led Change This panel discussion provided valuable insights for young leaders seeking to make a positive impact on global health.  It highlighted the importance of community-centered approaches, strong collaborations, and effective communication. The message is clear: young people have a vital role to play in tackling global health challenges, but only by working together and building trust with those who are experienced in the field. The event concluded with a call to action, urging participants to engage in mentorship, support youth-led initiatives, and advocate for policies that promote inclusivity and empower young people to drive." Connect with Ariel on LinkedIN . Alumni, share your stories with us here: alumni@mcnpartners.org

'I dream of painting, and then I paint my dream.' - Vincent Van Gogh Blog By Jiyeong Ko and Minkyeong Bae "Jiyeong Ko and Minkyeong Bae are Millennium Fellows and Emerging Technologists from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , collaborating as the driving force behind the TUNE initiative. Unified by concerns over plastic pollution and a fervour for sustainable fashion. Our blend of fashion expertise and technological acumen positions us uniquely to address environmental challenges in the fashion realm. Through innovative methods like hydro dipping, electroplating, and anodizing, we aim to transform the industry, offering eco-conscious alternatives to single-use plastics . Our shared passion propels us towards TUNE's mission: inspiring a shift towards sustainable fashion practices and nurturing a symbiotic bond between style and the environment. "Through innovative methods like hydro dipping, electroplating, and anodizing, we aim to transform the industry, offering eco-conscious alternatives to single-use plastics" Project TUNE Our Millennium Fellowship project aimed to promote sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics, highlighting their role in marine ecosystem preservation and to boost awareness of marine life. Through initiatives like elementary school sessions and interviews at Hong Kong Polytechnic University's School of Fashion and Textile, we engaged students and professionals. While effective in our outreach, we identified areas for improvement, such as expanding school engagement and incorporating interactive elements for a more impactful educational experience." Minkyeong Bae  is a final-year Knitwear Design and Technology student at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Minkyeong is an adventurous, caring, and diligent person who continuously challenges herself to step outside her comfort zone. She enjoys bringing out positive energy among groups, and she would like to achieve her project with the help of other members. Throughout her project, she looks forward to educating the local community about fast fashion and sustainable consumption of garments based on virtual experience.  Jiyeong Ko  is a senior Fashion and Textile student at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Jiyeong is a passionate student in Hong Kong, who has witnessed the devastating impact of plastic waste on the environment. Motivated by this firsthand experience, Jiyeong is dedicated to reducing plastic pollution. Through initiatives like beach clean-ups and educational campaigns, she strives to raise awareness and inspire sustainable practices. By actively engaging with her community and pursuing academic opportunities related to waste reduction, Jiyeong aims to create a positive impact and foster a cleaner, healthier environment for all. Experience as Emerging Technologist Millennium Fellows "As one of the Emerging Technologists, we got to meet and interact with hundreds of other young technologists from around the world. Within our cohort, there was a diverse group of Emerging Technologists, allowing for open discussions about the innovative fields each of us would like to pursue. Based on our long-standing interest in our school’s Industrial Center, we (Jiyeong and Minkyeong) decided to utilize its facilities to test our imaginations and ambitions. Electroplating, anodizing, and hydrodipping have been crucial approaches to demonstrate the visionary and meaningful aspects of our project. As Jiyeong served as Millennium Fellow and Minkyeong as the Campus Director, we boldly challenged ourselves. Given our design specialisms, we were able to strike a balance between the samples' aesthetic and practical needs. Notably, there were several opportunities specifically designated for Emerging Technologists (ET). Minkyeong had the privilege of leading one such session, a webinar delivered by TGT Fellows . It proved to be a valuable experience that enhanced my public speaking and communication skills. Addressing up to 500 fellows in a single session allowed me to fully develop and refine my soft skills." TUNE’s Inspiring Journey during Millennium Fellowship " The Millennium Fellowship provided us the courage to move forward and consistently encouraged us to think differently and on a larger scale. We were also grateful for our proactive cohort, which fostered collaboration and mutual assistance throughout the journey. We could sense the vibrant energy that formed a flourishing community of empowered youth. During moments of uncertainty about our initiative, we sought guidance from the Fellows, the Program Coordinator, and the group itself to foster our confidence as the changers.  We would also like to highlight the School Industrial Center's crucial role in our project. During the sample development process, three staff members supported us in operating the machines with great care. Their assistance was invaluable, and we were able to contribute to the promotion of their environment. We conducted approximately three to four trial samplings, and in the final iteration, the samples emerged as clean and well-crafted. When we presented our progress weekly, the staff members expressed genuine delight and appeared truly satisfied with our work. It was gratifying to see them capturing photos for their own purposes and marketing initiatives, further motivating us to explore different designs for experimenting with additional hydro-dipping machines. In the upcoming semester, we focus on shaping a unique brand identity that aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 14, spotlighting marine life. We aim to craft a resonant brand persona that communicates effectively with our audience. To achieve this, our strategy includes developing a visually compelling identity, setting clear brand guidelines, and conducting thorough market research. Through these actions, we intend to maintain our project's momentum, consistently engaging our audience and reinforcing our dedication to environmental awareness and sustainability." Thank you Minkyeong and Jiyeong for sharing your experience. Connect with Minkyeong and Jiyeong on LinkedIn. Alumni, to share your story, reach out here: ( alumni@mcnpartners.org ).

"I am Grecia Tello Sosa , currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Business Innovation  at the University of Monterrey . I have a deep interest in social and sustainable entrepreneurship, and consider myself an advocate for various causes, including equal access to education, female empowerment, and the well-being of animals. I have been involved in social impact leadership for a few years. In 2022, I assumed the role of Logistics Coordinator for the Economical and Political Awareness Association (ACEyP). In this capacity, I helped organize conferences and podcast episodes where pertinent information on current events in Mexico and around the world were discussed. I also worked closely with Emprende Mujer , a non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources for female entrepreneurs. My involvement consisted in the creation of educational content aimed at empowering women in their entrepreneurial endeavors. In 2023 I was selected to the Millennium Fellowship as an Emerging Technologist. Guided by my passion for entrepreneurship and business, I embarked on a journey that would end up leading to profound personal transformation. With the support of the Fellowship, my cohort, and the school, I was able to lay the foundation for my new social business venture. It is centered on the production and commercialization of environmental monitoring systems and air quality sensors. These devices play a critical role in providing real-time data on air quality and environmental conditions.  Applying to the Millennium Fellowship after being introduced to it by my degree program principal was the best decision I'd made up until that moment. The program provided a platform for collaboration and growth, enabling me to transform my initial business idea into a more comprehensive vision - drawing from the insights of my peers, faculty and the community. Through the program's training sessions, global webinars, and the valuable feedback from my teammates and campus directors, my project evolved. The strength of the team within the Fellowship has made me feel part of a safe space where I can openly discuss concerns, doubts, and the challenges encountered while developing my project. I knew by leveraging technological tools to offer reliable and relevant information on air contaminants, we could empower companies and governments to make informed decisions. I realized that my venture's mission had to be bigger and more meaningful, it had to extend beyond profits. I knew by leveraging technological tools to offer reliable and relevant information on air contaminants, we could empower companies and governments to make informed decisions, particularly in the context of climate action (SDG 13). Simultaneously, we sought to make air quality sensors accessible to individuals who prioritize their health.  As of now, we have installed 25 monitoring systems across Nuevo León, contributing to the government's efforts to track air quality in various areas and assess its impact on public health. Additionally, our e-shop and educational blog are gradually taking shape, promising to be valuable resources for anyone interested in environmental sustainability and air quality improvement. The Millennium Fellowship has not only been a support group; it has evolved into a community where guidance and encouragement can be found. As I conclude this semester, I do so with a deep sense of gratitude and commitment to social and environmental causes. The experience has created in me a passion for supporting fellow Millennium Fellows and their inspiring projects, demonstrating the transformative power of entrepreneurship in sustainability and social impact. About me Grecia Tello Sosa is a senior business creation and innovation student at University of Monterrey in Monterrey, NL, Mexico. Grecia is interested in brand and product development, as well as sustainability. Through her project, she hopes to provide accurate information about environmental pollution in the area, so that the proper actions are taken. After graduation, she plans on working in a related field, continuing her education and starting a business. Connect on LinkedIn .

“Seeing the world through rainbow-tinted lenses instead of just pink and blue-tinted ones. It makes the world a little more colorful than before, a little kinder“ A Blog by Aaratrika Santra " Some people are driven by a desire to make a positive impact on society, while others may be driven by a sense of purpose or responsibility to make the world a better place and to make a difference. I didn’t start my project to make the world a better place or to make an impact. I started it after venturing into the journey of studying the gender spectrum and discovered the confusion and apprehension people have regarding the subject, and how lonesome things can get for those grappling with identity. Throughout the process of building my project, Project Alexis, in the Millennium Fellowship community, I learnt that there are other young people out there willing to help make a difference in the world. It showed me that I could be a part of something bigger than myself. Before the Fellowship, I had never imagined that something could come out of this, that this idea of mine could create change. The Millennium Fellowship helped in the transition from just a vision to a project.  Gender dysphoria, more often than not, can lead to depression and anxiety. This world is not receptive. Even though I had never struggled with gender identity myself, I resonate with the feeling of being alone. We have all felt like we were spiraling and stranded. That is the beauty of humanity, one doesn’t need to be a part of a specific community to help others not to feel alone. Loneliness is something that all of us have dealt with at some point. Project Alexis is an attempt to provide a safe space for people battling mental health issues due to dysphoria . Sexual orientation and gender identity are integral aspects of our selves and should never lead to discrimination or abuse. In a world that may seem strange or has made them feel ostracized, self-acceptance is important. And only with acceptance can one focus on equality. How can one fight for equality or believe that they deserve equality, when one cannot accept themselves as they are? In this world which views everything through heteronormative lenses, misinformation and misconceptions are rampant. The baseline division which classifies something as masculine and feminine creates confusion and a sense of insecurity. Admittedly, the world has gone through changes and this issue has been noted and accepted; with more and more people now coming out of their shell and removing the lenses but it is far from being over. Misinformation about gender-identity is rampant which has created confusion and more questions than answers. health. Project Alexis is a way to provide correct information through articles, stories, art, craft, posters and many other ways to battle misinformation and help one feel comfortable in their own skin; it is about not making one feel alone and feel that there are others out there. There is a spectrum out there, colours of rainbow- not just pink and blue. This project began because of my conviction that the movement for gender equality can only be achieved by accepting one’s gender identity. Empowerment comes from self-acceptance, from a belief in oneself and one’s abilities. The project is a way to raise awareness, provide people correct information to understand and accept those with gender dysphoria, and a safe place to express themselves through forms of art like poems, stories, and paintings. Empowerment comes from self-acceptance, from a belief in oneself and one’s abilities.  The Millennium Fellowship allowed me to actualize my project and gave me the foundation and exposure I needed. In the course of the semester, I have realized the power I have as a young person. In away it also gave me deep faith in my generation - seeing a movement of thousands of hopeful and motivated peers does that. The Millennium Fellowship has played a very important role in 'awakening' my inner drive and turning it into reality . It helped me begin my exploration of SDG 5, pushing for the inclusion of all genders, beyond the binary, with special emphasis on providing help to those battling mental health issues on account of dysphoria. This was the starting point of my journey toward social impact, leadership, and community development. I am grateful to the program for setting me on the road of social impact and making me a part of something bigger." About Me Aaratrika Santra is a third-year student studying Computer Science and Engineering at XIM University. A Data Science and Analytics enthusiast, she is very interested in the power of data in this increasingly data-driven world and how it can be harnessed. She is passionate about forgoing labels and reducing boundaries, hoping for a world that is kinder to those they consider different. She juggles the relationship of being a whimsical writer with the cold logic of science. Her journey of social impact started with Project Alexis. Project Alexis is a way to offer a silent shoulder to rest and a helping hand for those who feel different. Sexual orientation and gender identity are integral aspects of ourselves and should never lead to discrimination or abuse. She firmly believes that only with acceptance can one focus on equality. Thank you Aaratrika for sharing your project. Alumni, if you'd like to share your story with the community, email Team MCN here: alumni@mcnpartners.org

Ariel Ackermann joined MCN as the Regional Manager for Europe in Feb 2024 after spending 5 years facilitating experiential learning and professional development among MIT’s undergraduate students. Her career has woven together her passions for supporting refugees and immigrants, empowering young people, and working toward social justice, intercultural relationships, and sustainable development. She sat down to talk with MCN about her vision for the Millennium Fellowship’s growth in Europe. 1) What is your vision for young leaders on campuses across the globe?   "I dream of a global movement of young leaders who feel connected – to their universities, to their identities, to their communities, and to each other – even across timezones, spotty internet access, and the forces that divide us." 2) Why do you think European students should participate in the Millennium Fellowship?   "Across Europe, there are so many brilliant and pragmatic young leaders, and university is the perfect time to clarify your values and skills, but without the support of your peers and experience practising effective leadership, it’s easy for those discoveries to evaporate in the hustle of launching your career. When you build a network of peers on your campus through the Millennium Fellowship, you gain thought partners  and accountability buddies , and you might just make some lasting relationships to add to your own personal board of directors  as you build the foundation of your career. 3) I know you have a background in career advising – how can participating in the Millennium Fellowship boost the career prospects of fellows with potential employers?   That’s right, before joining MCN, I worked at a top-ranked university, guiding students early on in their careers. To help students prepare for work after university, I would often ask employers what they are looking for in new hires. Again and again, international recruiters share that they are less attached to the precise degree that a person has, and more interested in learning how the candidate has taken the initiative to put their learnings into practice (keep in mind that in some European countries, like Germany, your degree of study may still be very important to employers!). The Millennium Fellowship is an amazing way for you to develop a project that you are passionate about and that brings together your skills and values. After all, we all know that we do our best work when we’re intrinsically interested and motivated!   There are many other skills used and built in the Millennium Fellowship that you can showcase for employers in an application or interview, as well. Some that come to mind are collaborating with people from varied backgrounds, the ability to lead a professional project in English , managing a project from start to finish, solving problems in the moment, and many others. [Side note from my background in career advising: your MF experience will give you many examples to use in a STAR method  for behavioural interviews!]   But, as I noted in the beginning, skills aren’t the only thing to set you apart in a competitive job market. Employers can teach skills needed to do a job well, but the best employees stand out because of their attitude  and values . When you participate in the Millennium Fellowship, you won’t simply build a strong network, tackle one of the Sustainable Development Goals, gain a certificate from the United Nations – you will also imbue your work with MCN’s core values of empathy, humility, and inclusion – the values that will help you succeed throughout your career. 4) Which SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) speaks to you most?   I love this question because it allows me to indulge in idealism for a bit. All SDGs are interconnected and intersectional, and they’re all important; it’s invigorating to imagine a world where we have achieved them (we have work to do ). For me, the concept that “a rising tide raises all boats” is true when it comes to the SDGs: progress on any one individual SDG will have ripple effects to make progress on the others. From that perspective, I always think we can make the most impact if we think about what is at the intersection of our passions, our skills, what is needed in the world, and what can fulfil our own needs (the beautiful Japanese concept ikigai  can help you think through this for yourself). I have always been an environmentalist at heart and in practice, and I get the most energy from working towards sustainability. It satisfies my practical impulse to fix and improve things, intersects with my awe of nature and gardening, and also in my conviction that a connected and healthy community is essential for social progress . If I was applying as a Millennium Fellow, there’s a good chance I would be working on a project to build a permaculture garden to create an inclusive space for refugees and immigrants, people with disabilities, different generations, and the queer community. Oh, and I’d probably lead weekly singing around the campfire and mending circles as part of the project!     5) How will you be working with universities in Europe to build the next generation of global leaders via your role with MCN? I plan to connect with leaders at European universities at every level: from the president, to professors, to staff, and students. One thing I love about MCN is that not only students benefit from the experience, but universities also get a boost by joining a network of 250+ other campuses who support young leadership and global engagement. MCN makes internationalization – a priority for many European universities  – easy to accomplish through the Millennium Fellowship, which requires very little effort on the part of universities but can support existing goals of providing an international, connected education for undergraduates. I’m excited to talk with educators and learners at every level of European universities. Feel free to reach out to me at aackermann@mcnpartners.org to explore how the Millennium Fellowship can grow on your campus.   6) What advice would you give to a European student who is passionate about social change but unsure where to start?   This answer may seem obvious, but apply to the Millennium Fellowship ! The curriculum will guide you and your colleagues as you engage with the foundations of social impact leadership. You don’t need previous experience to start (one reason I think the fellowship is particularly great for students early on in their career), just a vision for how you can affect change on your campus or community! Connect with Ariel on LinkedIn .

"I am Delafrique Deogratias a Class of 2023 Millennium Fellow pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences from the Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda. I like to call myself an innovator and a passionate SDG 3  advocate whose journey has been fueled by an unwavering passion for herbal product formulation and research. This enthusiasm has driven me to explore the vast potential of herbal remedies and their positive impact on the health and well-being of humans. For years I have been at the forefront of campaigning to transform the healthcare system by championing the integration of herbal and complementary medicines. I aim to ensure that patients have access to effective, safe, and affordable treatment options. Before joining the Millennium Fellowship Delafrique I was already involved in campus leadership, serving as President of the Association of Mbarara University Pharmaceutical Science Students and University Guild Council Chairperson. But this Fellowship experience changed my leadership approach entirely. iN 2023, I was selected as a Millennium Fellow and Campus Director for the Mbarara University cohort, an experience which has helped build my leadership skills, ability to organize, and increased my passion for social impact work. As a Campus Director not only did I run my own Fellowship project, I also supported other members of my cohort as they implemented their diverse initiatives. I was challenged and inspired everyday to demonstrate strong leadership skills and foster a positive environment for my cohort members. I wanted to create a feeling that we were all a family of people passionate about making a difference. This Fellowship allowed me to engage in continuous learning in the niche area of social impact leadership and afforded me an opportunity for professional development while enhancing my personal and professional skills. The training focused on fundamental learning areas such as setting SMART goals and objectives, project management, communication, and problem-solving. I also established deep and valuable connections with other Millennium Fellows around the region. The Students Innovation Award  The project I ran as my Millennium Fellowship project became very successful. I ran an initiative to create an innovative Antiseptic Herbal Wound Spray. This was a herbal formulation derived from locally sourced raw medicinal plants, including Bidens Pilosa  (Black Jack) and Aloe vera. This innovative formula is proven to help with wound management particularly for minor cuts, burns, and bruises, providing a natural and accessible alternative for patients unable to afford expensive first-aid care. As a result of my work on this initiative, I was blessed to earn recognition from various healthcare players in Uganda, including a prestigious 'Heroes in Health Award' in the 'Students Innovation Award; category. I hope the story of our Millennium Fellowship project, the VEP Antiseptic Herbal Wound Spray serves as an inspiration for young healthcare innovators. It illustrates the transformative power of combining traditional wisdom with modern solutions. Legacy of Sustainability As I graduate from the Millennium Fellowship, I intend to create a lasting legacy by ensuring the sustainability of my projects even beyond the Fellowship period. I am currently spearheading research into the development of grape powder which we hope can be used to help some cancer patients counteract kidney damage. This project aims to explore whether grape powder can help in safeguarding the delicate balance of patient health during and after therapy. In conclusion, I hope the story of our Millennium Fellowship project, the VEP Antiseptic Herbal Wound Spray serves as an inspiration for young healthcare innovators. It illustrates the transformative power of combining traditional wisdom with modern solutions. This creates a harmonious synergy that paves the way for a healthier, and sustainable future.  Thank you Deogratius and all Millennium Fellows who continue to make a difference worldwide. Connect with Deogratius on Linkedin .