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SGIA Participates in the XXII Seoul Model United Nations
Sekolah Global Indo-Asia was honoured to take part in the biggest Model United Nations Conference in South Korea, the 22nd SEOMUN, held at Seoul Foreign School on 8 – 10 November 2019. The conference was attended by 30 schools from 12 countries with over 600 delegates. Seventeen students from Sekolah Global Indo-Asia, ranging from Grades 10-12, participated in SEOMUN 2019. Model United Nations is a conference where middle to high school students from different countries participate to discuss and work together to resolve global issues. SGIA students were assigned to twelve committees where they collaborated with students from schools across Asia to address assorted world issues. Some of these committees were Advisory Panel Question, General Assembly, Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Economic and Social Council, Environmental Commission, Human Rights Council and United Nations Climate Change Conference.
To prepare for the 3-day conference, students underwent a once or twice-a-week training session for 3 months under the HMCA & MUN Club. During the training sessions, students were taught the purpose, language and procedures of Model United Nations. Students were trained to deliver speeches pertaining to the topic and stance of the country assigned to them. These sessions developed the necessary skills that students needed, not only during the conference, but also in their academic lives. Some of these skills are public speaking, researching & resolution / essay writing. In addition, the training sessions served to enhance the confidence and social skills of the students in dealing with people from various cultures and backgrounds. Additionally, students had the opportunity to do mock debates during these three months of training.
The conference’s theme was “The Future We Want”, a declaration on sustainable development and a green economy, adopted by the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio in June of 2012. During the actual conference, each SGIA student acted as a delegate of a country assigned to them by SEOMUN secretariat. The whole conference was a simulation of United Nations committee procedure, discussion and resolution making, where students engaged in an in-depth research, public speaking, debating, and writing. Furthermore, the three-day conference strengthened students’ critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership skills. All SGIA delegates had a chance to deliver their speeches, raise points of information or queries and collaborate with students from other international schools in Asia to resolve pressing issues of the world today.
Apart from the conference, the students also had the chance to engage in a cross-cultural and historical tour of Seoul and nearby Nami Island. Students visited the 13th century Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Myeongdong Street, Yongsan War Memorial Museum, Namsan Hanok Village and cruised along the Han River, the fourth longest river in Korean peninsula. Students were also fortunate enough to sample unique Korean dishes and meet locals, which made the trip even more memorable.
Though the events prior to and during the conference were challenging for all delegates, it is certain that this MUN experience has left all SGIA students with many special memories to cherish and important life skills and learning to be applied in the future.