Latest News » Budding diplomats from Hampstead School sweep the board at International Model United Nations
THE PROUD AND TRIUMPHANT members of Hampstead School’s Debating Team returned to school from the International Model United Nations, the proud bearers of the highly coveted cup for the Best Delegation, as well as several awards for outstanding individual performances.
The Model United Nations is an international forum where young people from schools all over the world debate issues of international concern. Over 250 delegates representing over 20 schools, including Eton College, George Watson College in Edinburgh, The London Oratory, and Methodist College Belfast, attended this year’s conference, held between 1 and 3 November and hosted by the Methodist College Belfast.
Students are organised into delegations of 4 or 5, with each delegation allocated a country to represent. Hampstead School’s 13 students were organised into 3 delegations representing UK, Spain and Lebanon. Each delegate is also assigned to a specialist committee such as Health, Economic Development, the Human Rights Committee and, crucially, the Security Council.
Agenda items this year included Slavery in the 21st Century, the International Illegal Drugs Trade, the Arctic Gold Rush, Women’s Rights in the Middle East and Stem Cell Research.
Expert speakers address the committees and this year, included Geoff Smyth from the Carbon Trust, Fiona Smyth from Amnesty International, Apolonia Mbondiya from Zimbabwe Solidarity and the General Assembly guest speaker was journalist Connor O’Cleary of the Irish Times.
Procedures mirror those of the real United Nations, with delegates busy and purposeful lobbying, making, amending and debating resolutions, and much like the real United Nations, there is fierce competition between delegations to table resolutions, win support in Committees and achieve approval by the General Assembly.
Hampstead delegates were congratulated by an international panel of judges for their skilful and robust representation of their countries’ policies, their effectiveness in speech making and their demonstration of consensus building, negotiating and leadership skills.
Andrea Smith, Assistant Headteacher, said that she was immensely proud of the Hampstead School team.
“ Taking part in the International Model United Nations is an outstanding opportunity for students to meet and debate some of the most significant issues facing the international community. To meet and debate with delegates from schools across the country and to achieve the cup for the Best Delegation is a fantastic achievement and an enormous privilege.
This is a credit to the preparation, public speaking and debating skills of our students. The whole school is extremely proud of these students who are a real credit to our community. ”
Simeon Wallis, a member of the MUN team since 2003, and now in Hampstead 6th Form, said: “All our years of hard work have paid off. We are proud to have taken part in this event and delighted to have won these awards on what is an international stage”.
List of participants:
Nicholas Courtman
Joel Davis
Clare Fanthorpe
Harry Farmer
Miki Govedarica
Chloe Grass
Orkin
Leo
James
Edward
James
Bart
Sibaud
Simeon
Wallis
Rebecca
Chan
Jeffrey
Burgin
Marie Osman
