What is your role as a V-Force volunteer for United Nations Volunteers India?
As a V-Force volunteer, I have served in five campaigns since last year. These were related to youth, women empowerment, and Sustainable Development Goals. A major part of it was the ‘Fight Against Corona campaign, which took place over a few months last year. We worked with Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and NSS of the Indian government to support corona recovery in India.
What is Girl Up? What is your work as a member?
Girl Up is an initiative by the United Nations Foundation. Its aim is to spread the ideals of gender equality, and uplift girls and women by reinforcing their leadership and policy-making roles. I contributed in over 18 initiatives and projects under Girl Up in the last five to six months. The most significant one is definitely the campaign that commenced on Army Day 2021. A few veterans from the Indian Army, both male and female officers, were invited for the panel discussion on women in Indian Army and upcoming opportunities. After the session, we formed a decentralised community to assist young girls who aspire to be officers in the Indian Armed Forces.
What is StudoMatrix? What role do you play as its joint secretary?
StudoMatrix aims to provide holistic development to youth, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. It was set up during the pandemic last year. A lot of talent lies unrecognised in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities because not many opportunities are available for these bright minds. Over the last one year, through StudoMatrix we’ve reached over 25,000 students across 150 cities in India. As its joint secretary, I oversee the management, administration, and program ideation as part of the core team.
Tell us about your experience with the UN System Staff College and Peace Operation Training Institute, the U.S.
I’ve had a wonderful experience. I’ve completed over 550 courses offered by various prestigious UN Institutes such as the United Nations System Staff College, Peace Operations Training Institute, United States Institute of Peace, Ivy League Universities, etc. The courses have been on diverse topics, from sustainable development, health, and women’s rights to human rights, peace keeping, good governance, administration, and international law. Recently, I was selected by the Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development of the UN System Staff College for a course on Climate Change and Paris Agreement, with the UN Secretariat, government officials, and other stakeholders from around the world.
What is your motivation behind spreading peace?
My motto is ‘The time to think was yesterday, today is the time to act’. We have spent a lot of time just talking, and with climate change knocking at our door, we have to act now. My aim is to make this world a better place to live in. Peace is very crucial for attaining sustainability since security and development go hand in hand.
What do you discuss in your meetings with Presidents, Prime Ministers, ambassadors, and other stakeholders?
I have had meetings with over a thousand stakeholders, including policymakers, Presidents, and ambassadors from around the world. We discuss a variety of topics such as upliftment of youth integration of artificial intelligence and education, sustainable development, policy coherence, climate change, and bilateral and multilateral relations.
Any memorable recognition for your work?
In 2017, I was awarded the AWWA Award of Excellence for my work in science and technology and community upliftment through sustainable development. This included transitioning barren land patches of Thar Desert into green science parks made up entirely of waste and recycled material.
If you get a chance to change one thing in the society, what would it be?
Our attention spans are getting shorter and we are becoming meaner, and I would like to change that. A lot of people, especially teenagers and young adults are blindly following random trends for the sake of looking cool. Also, we aren’t very good listeners. Most of the time, we listen just to reply and not to understand, and this is one of the reasons for instability in interpersonal relations nowadays. With these issues addressed properly, society can progress as a whole.
Picture Credit : Google
