University of Alberta Model United Nations (HSMUN)

 

Oftentimes, in the midst of busy work and school schedules, we fail to appreciate the greater scope of our actions. Living in Canada, it is very easy to see the world solely on a local scale, failing to recognize the state of world affairs and the effect it has on us. Here, we present two views of the University of Alberta High School Model United Nations, a three day conference that aims to educate high school students on global affairs.

 

For all of the members of the organizing committee, High School Model UN is a rewarding opportunity for us to empower high school students with a greater understanding of international relations and the importance of peace. During times of peace, it is easy to lose sight of its importance: we take it for granted, unable to even fathom a world engulfed by violence.

 

Although the time taken to organize HSMUN every year is a huge investment, we consider it an investment for the future. Just as many of us on the organizing committee gained a greater understanding of world affairs from HSMUN as high school delegates, we hope that it can inspire current high school students to do the same. The aim of the United Nations, and the HSMUN conference, is to promote lasting world peace. Only through earnest and sincere discussion between all countries of the world can we achieve that goal. We strive to simulate the actual United Nations in all our committees, encompassing a wide diversity of countries and topics in order to stimulate polarizing arguments and show the students how difficult international cooperation can be. We hope that through the spirited debate and efforts to tackle pressing world issues, high school students can gain a greater appreciation for the value of world peace. For all of the organizing committee, we believe that we are not just Canadian citizens: we are citizens of the world.

 

When I was a high school student, I found that while the school curriculum was great at covering historical events, it failed to cover concepts that really affect us today. We learned about the causes and results of war; however, we learned nothing about maintaining peace and international cooperation, which are much more relevant now. I can easily say that HSMUN was one of my favorite events during those years, encapsulating not only a fun, enjoyable conference but important life lessons that were somehow interspersed within those days.

 

Of course, since it has been several years since any of us have attended HSMUN as a high-school delegate, we reached out to some of the students who attended HSMUN 2013 and asked them for their input. Although each individual contacted had different responses, they all had a common theme: what they took out of HSMUN was more than just having fun discussing topics within their committees. Many students admitted to being very competitive during the conference, oftentimes becoming fed up with fellow delegates and differing foreign policies; however, they all agreed that the inherent difficulty of cooperating allowed them to gain a greater appreciation for the effort needed to maintain international peace.

 

Upon further questioning, almost all delegates felt that HSMUN was a valuable experience because it places them into a situation where they must critically examine issues and find solutions that fit not only their own country’s policy, but is agreeable to others as well. In many facets of life, theory and real-life do not work the same way. It is one thing to say that compromise should be reached so that the world can work together, but to actually do so when faced with polarizing issues is another matter altogether.

 

Finally, many students admitted that they were unaware of some of the issues in the world before addressing them during HSMUN. As a student, it is easy to limit your world view to your school, maybe your home, and places you visit often, all within Edmonton. As a Western country, we do not face many of the atrocities committed each day around the world. For them, HSMUN is a gateway to expand their horizons, gaining not only life skills but a deeper understanding of their role in the world.

 

Overall, we consider HSMUN an experience that is fun for the high school delegates but which also serves as a forum to learn more about the world. Because of the lack of international relations in the high school curriculum, we hope that HSMUN can broaden the students’ horizons, whether from the committee discussions or the speakers who attend. We would not be able to do this without the monetary support of the Edmonton-Riverview Rotary Club. Through their generosity, we are able to instill upon the students a greater appreciation for world peace, international citizenship, and global awareness. 

 

Sincerely, Finnbar Timbers

General Secretary, 2013 University of Alberta, Model United Nations