Woah, United Nations Development Programme India (UNDP) has announced their partnership with our #BossBabe, Prajakta Koli, popularly known as MostlySane for the first UNDP India Youth Climate Champion and we’re super excited and proud of her. For the unversed, since 1951, UNDP has worked in India for almost all areas of human development. Its programmes integrate a global vision for catalytic change with India’s national priorities.
Besides being a content creator, Prajakta has always been an active campaigner for socially relevant youth-centric issues like mental health, women’s rights, and girl child education to name a few.
Over the years, Prajakta has actively participated towards bringing a change for the overall betterment of society,
In 2016, she tackled the issue of body shaming and online bullying with her song, ‘Shameless‘ on World Mental Health Day under the #IPledgeToBeMe campaign. As the global ambassador for YouTube’s, Creators For Change, she started a conversation around online trolling, female subjugation, and homophobia under the ‘No Offence’ campaign. This was also showcased at the United Nations headquarters in New York on International Tolerance Day.
In 2018, Prajakta starred in the first-ever TVC by WhatsApp which addressed the importance of not spreading any fake news. In the latter half of the same year, she partnered with YouTube for ‘Social Impact Girl’s Education’ campaign with Instagram on their ‘Safer Internet Week‘ campaign and One.org for their ‘Girl Education‘ campaign.
Here’s more about Prajakta’s contribution towards campaigns that have a social impact,
In 2019 she was invited by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their annual ‘Goalkeepers Summit‘. In the same year, she also participated in Unite, a 24 hours live ‘streamathon’ organized by ‘Call to Unite’ and ‘Room To Read’ to promote education amongst children. Here she was seen along with the likes of George Bush, Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner.
In 2020, Prajakta touched upon the importance of educating the girl child in the ‘Creators For Change‘ Youtube original documentary helmed by Michelle Obama. This documentary also won an Emmy.
In 2021, she joined ‘Google.org Impact Challenge’ to aid grants to non-profit organizations and addressed the economic inequalities faced by women and girls alongside Shakira, Amanda Gorman, Naomi Osaka, and Dr. Rigoberta Menchú Tum.
Prajakta’s long-standing contributions through various global social campaigns make her a perfect candidate for the given title. Being a youth icon, she will help to maximize the youth’s participation in climate action and ensure a more sustainable future in the long term. Today close to 60% of the youth in India consider the climate crisis as a global emergency and are ‘walking the talk’ by pressing the need for urgent policy creation and also by making climate-conscious choices in their lifestyle. As UNDP India Youth Climate Champion, Prajakta will be responsible to interact with young minds and create awareness on the adverse impacts of climate change, global warming, and biodiversity loss that are being felt by all sections of society. She will also address the need for collective action by sharing inspirational stories of how governments, communities, and individuals are taking definite steps to make a real difference.
Here’s what the super elated Prajakta Koli has to say about the title and her responsibilities,
“I am extremely humbled and honoured to have been entitled with this unique responsibility to champion a cause that is close to my heart. As the very first UNDP India Youth Climate Champion, I would like to produce and participate in opportunities that propel conversations around climate action and the urgent measures we must take. The youth need to be the torchbearers of this revolution and foot soldiers who will work towards the common goal of an enriched and empowered future where the human species doesn’t become endangered. We have created this problem, but we can solve it too. With UNDP, I will strive to work with young minds across the globe to take appropriate measures for climate action.”
Shoko Noda, resident representative of UNDP India has this to say as he welcomes Prajakta,
“We are excited to have Prajakta on board as the UNDP India Youth Climate Champion. Young people are the leading voice to make the world more sustainable. Prajakta has a strong connect with millions of young Indians. I am sure her voice reaches the hearts of youth, and inspires them to take climate action.”
Needless to say, we’re super excited and elated for Prajakta and can’t wait to see her reach newer heights. On another note, We hope y’all are vaccinated and staying safe.