Srinagar, May 26 (KNO): In a remarkable achievement, a 26-year-old Umar Masoodi, a young lawyer and environmental advocate from Kashmir, has been selected for the prestigious beVisioneers Fellowship, a global program supported by Mercedes-Benz.
The fellowship recognizes and empowers young changemakers worldwide who are driving innovative and community-led solutions to environmental and sustainability challenges.
A practicing lawyer at the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, Masoodi is a graduate of the University of Kashmir. He is among the select few globally chosen for the 2025 cohort of the beVisioneers Fellowship, in recognition of his grassroots work and environmental advocacy in Kashmir—particularly through his "Taleem Initiative", which promotes sustainability, education, and civic awareness among school-going youth.
As a beVisioneers Fellow, Masoodi as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), will receive extensive support, including full funding for travel, accommodation, training, and international networking events.
The program also offers a €700 infrastructure grant and a monthly living stipend of €120 from June 2025 to May 2026 to help bring fellows’ environmental projects to life. Fellows also benefit from personalized mentorship, leadership development, and access to a global network of sustainability leaders.
Masoodi’s proposed project under the fellowship focuses on the “Spring Rejuvenation Program” in the Kashmir Valley, targeting natural springs that have been polluted and degraded due to human activity.
His initiative aims to restore these springs by building protective embankments, reviving native vegetation, promoting sustainable water usage, and conducting conservation awareness campaigns within local communities.
This is not Masoodi’s first international recognition. In 2024, he was selected for the prestigious Lucerne Academy for Human Rights Implementation at the University of Lucerne, Switzerland where he completed an intensive course on human rights law.
He has also received an invitation from the European Union to attend the European Youth Event (EYE2025) at the European Parliament in Strasbourg scheduled for June 2025.
Masoodi’s growing list of accolades highlights his dedication to environmental sustainability, legal advocacy, and youth empowerment. As he embarks on his journey with the beVisioneers Fellowship, he represents a new wave of socially-conscious leadership emerging from Kashmir—driven by purpose, innovation, and a vision for a more sustainable future—(KNO)