Shreya Mukhopadhyay, a student of SEES batch 2017-19 participated in a short course called ‘Evaluating Social Programs’, organized by Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She was accepted as one of 52 global participants, and attended the course in June, at Sloan School of Economics, MIT. The focus of the course was to highlight the importance of Randomized Controlled Tests, in contrast with other evaluation techniques, in designing and evaluating social programs from a policymaker’s point of view.

Shreya was selected as a delegate from India, to attend the 22nd session of Youth Assembly from August 10-13 in New York City. Twice in a year, the Youth Assembly brings together a delegation of global youth from over 100 countries to create and develop solutions that foster UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To her, meeting successful social entrepreneurs and learning about budding social ventures of the youth were the most interesting part of the conference.

She also had the opportunity to visit the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations in New York. The Swiss Minister of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), and the Deputy Permanent Representative to UN, Mr. Favre Dominiquw discussed their country’s report of 2018, emphasizing their method of work and participation with respect to the UN’s General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council.

Shreya had detailed interaction with Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, special advisor to the UN Secretary-General on the SDGs, and H.E. Ms. Simona-Mirela Miculescu, representative of the UN Secretary-General. The Youth Assembly experience was complete for her after she visited the United Nations Headquarters, and had a total overview of the working procedure of the organization.