Success for Malvern St James at MUN Conference

Published by Malvern St James Girls' School on Friday 8th of April 2011

Ten nervous and excited girls set off on Friday 25th March to a Model United Nations Conference at Haileybury School. 600 children from 38 schools here and abroad were representing 115 countries and debating such issues as: children in armed conflicts, the position of Kurds and biodiversity loss.

All but one of the 10 delegates were novices. All the girls spoke in debates to groups of about 70 students and many of their resolutions were chosen. The conference ended with MSJ's best ever award for an individual. Victoria Jackson, Year 12, was judged to be the best in the Human Rights committee and won a Distinguished Delegate Award. Although a novice, Lizzie Lewis, Year 13, was highly commended and many of the girls were tenacious in argument. The girls were buzzing with confidence on the minibus home and cannot wait for the next conference in the Autumn. This conference was a splendid example of integration: of girls of different ages and nationalities spending the weekend together and looking out for each other. The ethos of these conferences is to encourage delegates to stand up, take risks and think on their feet. It exposes them to a challenging arena of articulate young people who are passionate about the issues facing the world today.

Elizabeth Rees, Year 10, said, 'Thank you so much for the wonderful conference at Haileybury; I really enjoyed myself and was truly glad that I went. Even though I have been interested in current affairs, the conference highlighted just how interesting and important current affairs and all round knowledge is. Talking at the conference and seeing my fellow delegates talk with such confidence and enthusiasm inspired me to enrich my knowledge of politics and style of debate.'

Georgie Kwok, also Year 10, agreed 'I had the most amazing time over the past weekend and I have been truly inspired by the delegates at Haileybury, who were so eloquent and knowledgeable that I was blown away. It was an invaluable experience. Somehow I feel changed. I feel more confident in myself (I felt like an ant on the first day, but by the end of the last day, I felt like I had grown a little bit taller!) and more eager to get to know the world around me. Thank you so much for giving me this great opportunity.'