Students from three local international schools tried their hand at solving the world’s problems recently during the region’s first tri-school Model United Nations conference.
Organised and hosted by St. Andrews International School Green Valley, with students from Garden and Regents also participating, the event demanded the teens be well-informed on complex global issues; publicly argue a point of view and work together to establish resolutions.
An opportunity to understand.
Each of the 25 students represented an assigned country, and the aim was to debate and vote on motions, as in the actual UN.
St. Andrews English teacher Mr. Brandon Jenvey, who oversaw the event, said the insights gained from the experience encouraged students to be socially-aware global citizens.
“It teaches them the attributes needed for compromise, the skills of debate and forces them to look at an issue through a range of different perspectives,” he said.
Students try their hand at debate.
Participant Year 10 student Edward Varnes said the day gave him the opportunity to make new friends and develop his debating skills.
“MUN was a great experience. It enabled me to gain confidence with speaking in front of others and also build my knowledge of the world,’ he said.
Simulated United Nations conferences have been taking place in schools and universities across the world since the organisation was founded, in 1945.
Mr. Jenvey added that as St. Andrews International School Green Valley educates students hailing from over 45 countries, the conference was a “perfect fit”.
