Burnside High School students participate in the Model United Nations at the University of Canterbury

Recently on the 3rd and the 4th of April, twelve students from Burnside High School participated in the Canterbury region’s Model United Nations. Model United Nations is a multi-day event run by UN Youth, an organisation that aims to get young people into politics. At MUN you are assigned a country, and for the duration of the conference, represent the views of your assigned country, as opposed to your own. Delegates of different countries are put into different focus groups such as genetic engineering, or next-generation technology, where you collaborate and negotiate with others to change clauses of a resolution (a piece of legislation created by the conference assistants).

Over the conference we each debated topics in our own focus groups. This was a great opportunity to work with others. Working with both trusted allies (love you UK <3) and sworn enemies (looking at you Uganda) we tried to successfully get an amended piece of legislation having the majority of the delegate's support. Whether it was an amendment reforming the way that genetic modification should be allowed to operate on humans, or Poland’s attempt to buy Wales for 37 billion GDP, it was so much fun to work with new people and build relationships with others in these groups.

In plenary, everyone came together to have every country of the world work together on two pieces of legislation (the first being Sustainable Development and the second being Artificial Intelligence). Amendments ranged widely from changing international intellectual copyright law to replacing the chair of the UN with ChatGPT. Whether silly or serious everyone enjoyed the ability to debate the resolutions.

These events are such a valuable opportunity for students. Not only do students gain valuable lessons in civics and international relations, but they take away practical skills such as improved public speaking and negotiating abilities.

Thank you to Mrs Pooch for all the behind-the-scenes admin that goes into coordinating an event like this. We know it is a significant effort and we thank you for it. Secondly thank you to all the conference assistants who help create this amazing event. Without the incredible mahi that they put into this event would not be here, so we are grateful for all the effort they put in. Thank you to Shivam Shankar, a year 12 student, who I know helped a large group of younger BHS students through the conference, and is a role model for all delegates through his incredible public speaking. Finally thank you to all the parents for their support. The events are truly valuable and I know that your child will have been grateful for having the opportunity to have learned in such an exciting format.