June 16th, 2021

 

 

Tamara Miguez Selayarán

On the 29th of May Crandon’s Model UN Club carried out the 6th edition of its local conference, held virtually on this occasion, with the participation of 75 students from 7 different schools. After weeks of intense research and creative policy writing, these students represented 17 of the Member States of the United Nations in debating 5 current issues in urgent need of solutions. Together, students from Instituto PreUniversitario de Montevideo, International College de Punta del Este, Colegio Seminario, St Brendan’s School, the British Schools, Uruguayan American School and Instituto Crandon were able to pass a number of Resolutions with potential strategies to tackle these issues, leaving with a clearer understanding of the world they live in.

In the opening ceremony, we were lucky enough to receive a very special speaker, Luz Ángela Melo, who is the national representative of UNICEF. She spoke of the potential of children and teenagers in shaping the present and the future, and how essential it is for students to show commitment to the world beyond what they can experience first hand. She congratulated the students present on their initiative, pointing out that their interest in programs such as Model UN shows how much has already been achieved towards this goal.

With her words of encouragement ringing in their ears, students marched off to their respective committees, where, led by the most experienced among them, the Student Officers, they debated during the whole day following the strict protocol of behaviour and expression of the United Nations. According to this protocol, students must dress formally (even from home), always refer to themselves by «the delegation of…», and raise their placards to ask for permission to speak, which can only be granted by one of the students moderating the committee. One of the most wonderful aspects of Model UN conferences is seeing how students go into «delegate mode» and, even without any teachers present, respect the protocol and each other’s roles to a fault.

Before all committees adjourned and joined together in the General Assembly, there was a moment of levity, referred to as the «Superlatives», in which the delegates of each committee choose among them the delegates that best embody some of the qualities of a good ambassador. Through a system of voting they chose the best delegate, the best dressed delegate, the one most likely to end up working for the UN, among others. There was even a zoom special, a superlative that they couldn’t have had if the conference had been in person, which was ‘cutest pet cameo’.

Led by our distinguished alumni Nicolás Anido in his role as President of the General Assembly, this last large meeting with most of the attendees resulted in the ratification of all the Resolutions passed by the committees. A resounding success for all the work invested in them throughout the day.

The closing ceremony, to finish off the event, included speeches by all the Student Officers, who shared the highlights of the day spent with their delegates and some words of wisdom with their fellow students. Additionally, as is customary, the President of the General Assembly sent off the guests with the bang of his gavel, after a heartfelt and impactful speech about the power of choice.

All in all, after a year of inactivity, the Crandon Model UN club came back strong, with an impressive group of delegates who proudly represent the school and a successful virtual conference to add to their experience.

Related articles: Crandon ModelUN Club in a Virtual Scenario

 

Copyright: Mathias P.R. Reding, Pexels