Yale Model United Nations Singapore Conference Trip
by Matthew Gaetano, Principal
Our Model United Nations team just returned from a trip to Singapore to participate in the Yale Model United Nations Conference. They joined over 500 students from 20 different countries to participate in committees. Before the conference started, we were able to go to the Asian Civilizations Museum and learn more about trade between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, the religions of Asia as well as indigenous belief systems, and take a look at textiles, ceramics, and jewelry. We then headed down to Orchard Road for some food and shopping.
The conference began the next day. Our team was involved in the UN Human Rights Commission, The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the League of Arab States, Special Political and Decolonization Committee, the UN Children’s Emergency Fund, and the 1965 SIngapore Cabinet. Students are assigned a country to represent and must try to solve an issue by looking at the solution through the lens of their country. MUN challenges students to look at complex issues facing the world and to come up with innovative solutions. Students must use the skills such as research, public speaking, diplomacy, writing, critical thinking, teamwork, compromise, and persuasiveness.
Although MUN is still in its first year at MIS, three of our ten delegates became block leaders and sponsors to resolutions to solve the issues they were investigating. We had three of our ten delegates attending their first conference. Sienna earned an Honorary Mention Award for her work as the delegate of Burundi in the UNHRC. This was a committee designated for Intermediate level delegates who had participated in at least 3-5 conferences. Sienna was participating in her second conference. Her resolution looked at ways to help support migrant workers in Southeast Asia through the creation of an electronic registry to connect workers with jobs.
Students were able to meet students from other schools and form new friendships. The work is intense, but for those who love this kind of work, it is extremely fun.
The conference kept us pretty busy from morning until night, but we managed to get away for a visit to Marina Bay Sands and the waterfront. We ate, shopped, and watched the water/laser show.
On the way to the airport the students wanted to know when their next conference would happen. They are already prepared to get to work for the next conference. The students at MIS never cease to amaze me.
Model United Nations, also known as Model UN (MUN), is an educational simulation of the United Nations to teach students about diplomacy, international relations, and global issues. During a MUN conference, students assume the roles of representatives of countries, organizations, or individuals to collaborate and address global challenges.
Yale Model United Nations is a four-day international relations simulation for high school students, held on Yale University’s campus in New Haven. At YMUN, delegates from all over the world interact with one another through debate and diplomacy to solve complex challenges facing the world today. At YMUN, delegates will have the opportunity to take on roles of UN representatives, policymakers, and important figures at our virtual conference and learn about the inner workings of global politics and problem-solving. By engaging in topics concerning international and national security, political and economic development, human rights, sustainability, and more, delegates learn to navigate the intricacies of international negotiation and teamwork, adopt new perspectives, and develop comprehensive resolutions on pressing global issues.
Source: https://ymun.org/about-us-1
