Model United Nations at the UN HQ
From 9th – 13th May, eight students in Year 9 attended the Global Classrooms International Model United Nations Conference in New York. Shazia Anjoom 10M, Farzana Aktar 10L, Rifat Khadijah 10U, Nafeesah Hussain 10L, Roda Ibrahim 10L, Nasima Akthar 10U, Habibah Begum Ali 10L and Taznina Choudhury 10B represented the UK at this prestigious international event.
The students were allocated Honduras as their delegate country. In the run up to the conference, they carried out extensive research on Honduras’ stance on major political and socio-economic issues, thoroughly immersing themselves in the diplomatic context of the country. During the conference itself, they played the role of UN ambassadors in a simulated diplomatic context, taking part in challenging debates with international delegates representing other countries and attempting to reach effective resolutions with other countries and groups of countries.
Whilst in New York, they explored the city’s rich cultural and artistic life. Students visited key cultural and heritage sites including the Rockefeller Centre, the Statue of Liberty, the Museum of the American Indian, and a city bus tour.
Mulberry is the lead UK school for the United Nations Global Classrooms Project, and delivers one of the most extensive Model United Nations Programmes in the country. The second of our two annual conferences for London schools and international schools took place on the 12th and 13th July.
This year’s summer conference focused on the theme of global health, drawing together key global public health issues such as child and infant health and mortality, disease epidemics and mental health.
Within the MUN programme, students are able to learn about the structure and functions of the United Nations through assuming the roles of UN council members. Students are allocated to countries in advance, and are expected to spend considerable time researching their country’s stance on the conference topic. Students also undertake training on the processes and procedures of UN committees. On the day of the conference, students are required to engage in fast-paced, often intense debates with council members representing other countries. They must represent the opinions of their allocated country, even if these opinions do not align with their personal attitude towards the conference topic.
MUN provides a stimulating atmosphere in which students are challenged to hone their research, debate and presentation skills, and to thoroughly understand crucial aspects of international politics and diplomacy.
