Under its consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) hosted a virtual side event at the prestigious 2025 ECOSOC Youth Forum. The event was held on 16th April from 5:30 PM and was titled “Empowering Young Women and Girls through AI: Bridging the Digital Divide for Inclusive and Sustainable Development.”
KISS was selected to host this event after a rigorous and competitive selection process. Proposals were submitted by leading global organizations, UN agencies, policy think tanks, and top academic institutions. KISS’s impactful work with Indigenous and marginalized youth, especially young women and girls, led to this recognition.
The session brought together global voices and change-makers. Notable speakers included:
– Mr. Satya S. Tripathi, Chancellor – Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, and Former Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations
– Dr. Akhtar Badshah, Distinguished Practitioner and Lecturer, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington, USA
– Ms. Eunsong Kim, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Specialist, Chief – Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO India
– Ms. Thryza Dow, Impact Head – Entrepreneurship, Idobro Impact Solutions
– Ms. Elena Estavillo Flores, CEO, Centro-i para la Sociedad del Futuro, Mexico
The event provided an opportunity for KISS to showcase its commitment to inclusive and technology-enabled education, with a focus on creating safe, empowering spaces for young women and girls from marginalized communities. Discussions revolved around the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in promoting gender equity, education, and social inclusion.
This milestone further positions KISS as a global leader working at the intersection of education, gender equality, and digital innovation—contributing meaningfully to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
The event also served as a platform for KISS students, staff, and faculty to share their perspectives, practices, and aspirations with a global audience, and to build deeper networks with like-minded institutions and experts across the world.
KISS remains committed to empowering every child—especially those from the most underserved backgrounds—through education, empathy, and innovation.
