Students from Shebbear College were among more than 250 young people from 13 different schools who attended the annual Model United Nations conference this month
Simulating a real United Nations conference in terms of structure, organisation and discussion, the MUN aims to help students develop a wide range of diplomatic and political skills while providing an insight into the world of international politics.
Twenty-five pupils from Shebbear College in North Devon chose to represent four different countries: Emilio Alberti, Connor Roberts, Salah Gobara, Bronwyn Ager and Claudia Galland represented Syria; Sean Clark, Maddie Burnard, Max Warren, Kitty Harding and Niamh Martin stood for Azerbaijan; Phoebe Willis-Butcher, Struan Sharpe, Ella Thomas, Minnie Alexander, Hannah Fletcher appeared for Ireland; and Ailis Prowse, Ollie Rogerson, Victor Nitsch, Kerri-Ann Turton, Lucy Taylor and Nour Gobara represented Nigeria.
Held at Queen’s College in Taunton, the day began with Taunton Deane’s local MP, Jeremy Browne, addressing the students on the importance of having viewpoints on current politics and how, in the future, the students could make a difference to important decisions being made.
Students had to think on their feet, learn about the governance of the UN, research their representative countries and current world issues in-depth ahead of a debate in the General Assembly during the final part of the day. One particular issue up for discussion was the Ukraine crisis.
Shebbear Sixth Form pupil, Sean Clark, recalls the day: “It is a great way for students to learn about current world affairs from the point of view of many different countries. Additionally, it is very beneficial for each participant, as it teaches them the skills they will need in later life. For example, the art of debating and presenting clauses to crowds reaching over one hundred people, which some delegates such as Nour Gobara and Emilio Alberti did this year.”
Student Emilio Aliberti won the prize of Commended Delegate for his contribution to the political committee for Syria.
