50 Indian students to present projects at famous ECOSOC chambers at UN headquarters in New York
Fifty Indian teenagers are set to represent India at the 7th 1M1B Activate Impact Summit at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The students – mostly from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Delhi – will present social, economic, and environmental projects to a gathering of industry experts, corporations, non-profits, academia, civil society, UN representatives, Indian officials and delegates from multiple countries.
Indian students will take part in transformative events featuring Networking mixers, Rocket Pitches, Power Talks, Slam Poetry, and insightful discussions over micro- documentaries, all aimed at igniting inspiration for meaningful action supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On the agenda are also critical dialogues on topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Tech for Good, Digital Citizenship & Inclusivity, Sustainability & Climate Action, Localising & Accelerating SDGs, and Amplifying UN Campaigns, ensuring that the summit is an immersive experience and a catalyst for innovation and collaborative change to achieve promises of the United Nations and the 2030 agenda.
Said Manav Subodh, Founder of 1M1B, a UN accredited non-profit, “The One Million for One Billion (1M1B) programme is meticulously identifying and moulding promising young talents into human-centred leaders. Through varied projects, these leaders are working towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and will in turn impact one billion people. This summit is proof of the path the programme has taken and will have participation from diverse backgrounds, including educators, corporate executives, dignitaries, entrepreneurs, and young innovators. The summit collates inputs and recommendations from these diverse stakeholders for Summit of the Future 2024, with focus on AI, cyber safety, climate action and inclusive technologies”.
The spotlight of the Activate Summit will be on the presentations by Indian teenagers of their impactful projects in agriculture, climate change, diabetic patients, hearing impaired, and even ecosystems like lakes, among others. These projects include innovations in drones and Artificial Intelligence for farmers, solar-powered drinking water for rural areas, and sustainable menstrual hygiene practices for girls from poor families. The will present to an expected audience of educators, corporate professionals, government officials, and students from around the world.
This year’s summit is set to host nearly 300 participants, including students, educators, industry experts, and government officials. Key Participants for this year’s summit include prominent personalities like Ambassador Madam Ruchira Kamboj, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York; Mr Maher Nasser, Director, Outreach, United Nations Department of Global Communications, New York; Ms. Hawa Diallo, Chief, Civil Society Unit, Outreach, Department of Global Communications, United Nations, New York, and other leaders from 1M1B partners like IBM, Meta, UC Berkeley and Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL)
Ambassador Madam Ruchira Kamboj, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York, said, “India’s vibrant youth represent not just our nation’s potential, but also our active commitment to shaping a sustainable and inclusive future. As these 45 young visionaries from India present their innovative initiatives at the 1M1B Activate Impact Summit at the United Nations, they embody the spirit of our country’s dedication to the Sustainable Development Goals. Their work, marked by creativity and a deep understanding of global challenges, is a testament to India’s role in driving positive change on the world stage. We are proud to support and witness their contributions to a more equitable and prosperous global community.”
Mr. Maher Nasser, Director of Outreach at the Department of Global Communications at United Nations, said, “Examples of youth-led initiatives with positive impact on their community reinforce the hope that we can overcome rising challenges that our world is facing today. I welcome the opportunity to listen to young leaders from India who are speaking at the 1M1B Activate Impact Summit about projects that have had transformative changes in the lives of their communities. Change led by youth is change that feeds on young people’s creative energy and optimism and is therefore change that needs to be embraced and amplified. With rising and interconnected global challenges, we need more youth-led initiatives and solutions.”
The 1M1B Activate Impact Summit will collate inputs and make recommendations for the United Nations Summit of the Future – to be held in September 2024 – is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance cooperation on critical challenges and address gaps in global governance, reaffirm existing commitments including the Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Charter, and move towards a reinvigorated multilateral system that is better positioned to positively impact people’s lives.
“The 1M1B Activate Impact Summit is channeling one of the biggest strengths of India – its young population – to create future leaders. We want to give Indian talent an opportunity at the top. We want them to not just talk about issues but also come up with solutions, solutions that we help implement and scale up. They’ve shown they can use new-age skills to solve age-old problems. Most already have a change maker and entrepreneurial mindset that, for example, is needed for achieving sustainable development goals of 2030,” added Subodh.