As the delegate of Japan I would like to recommend all students with a passion for debating, exploring and challenging themselves to take part in MUNOG as it is definitely an eye-opening experience! It allowed me to interact with students from a range of countries, such as Belgium, Taiwan and Denmark, hear interesting accents and get a taste of unique cultures!
Debating in a formal ambience was nerve-wracking; however, everybody was friendly and we all helped each other with deep community spirit. The event increased my confidence in public speaking and opened my mind to many global issues, such as the 'Dancing Boys' of Afghanistan and persecution of people with albinism. I was more than pleased when my resolution was accepted and voted for in my committee!
Another aspect of this trip that I will never forget is living with my host family. Most people may be quite scared to live with strangers but my host family welcomed me into their warm home whole-heartedly! They looked after me as if I was their own and I immediately felt accepted. I will never forget the food my German mother cooked for me; delicious! - Sonia Chopra (Year 13)
The Delegate of Rwanda would like to express the fact that taking part in this fantastic programme was very challenging and enjoyable! The rigorous preparation before-hand enabled me to construct a strong discussion base, which assisted in the delivery of numerous speeches. The research involved required intense commitment as we had to be aware of both global and national political details, in order to be equipped with the appropriate knowledge to answer any questions put forward by other countries.
By representing the Republic of Rwanda I had to undertake the view of the country, specifically for the individual committees, which in my case was the Economic and Social Council. We dealt with issues of micro-financing, healthcare and the on-going conflict between Israel and Palestine; in the end, after many fruitful debates, we devised resolutions that were passed at the general assembly. Within the committee we were encouraged to present our views and, due to the planning I had done, I felt confident and fully involved myself in the deliberations.
MUNOG provided me with the opportunity to improve my team-leading skills, especially when creating a suitable resolution for a topic, and communication skills as not every delegate had English as their first language. It has made me more attentive to the worldwide concerns that are increasing daily and that everyone can help in order to resolve these problems. I had the chance to meet a diverse range of people from different countries, which enabled me to learn about their lives and culture. Living with a host family was amazing; daily life differed from what I am used to, making it wonderful to participate in another culture, socialise with multi-lingual friends and learn another language.
Overall, I would recommend MUNOG to anyone and everyone as you get the chance to make new friends and expand your understanding of the United Nations! “MUNOG is LOVE!” - Gagandeep Matharu (Year 13)
The MUNOG experience was both a politically educational trip and a culturally enriching experience. Preparation for the Model United Nations conference began by assigning ourselves to a chosen foreign country, Rwanda. The programme required us to become delegates of this country and represent Rwanda's opinions on specific agenda items that were to be discussed in our committees. The preparation for the conferences was the hardest part of the whole experience; we were to fully immerse ourselves in a completely new culture and politics through extensive research. The areas I covered concerned legal matters:
• The implementation of United Nations Resolutions;
• Drug Cultivation Control;
• Prevention of Youth Crime and the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Youth Offenders
Before MUNOG, I knew little about the United Nations and their resolutions; MUNOG has educated me in world politics and opened my eyes to the terrible conditions experienced worldwide. During the debates, quick thinking of Rwandan opinion was required in order to support my country’s integrity when questioned by others. Meeting people from around the world was an experience in itself, as was staying with a host family; for me, the best part was making international friends. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone with an interest in political debates and a desire to meet new people. Poonam Masih (Year 13)