Promoting World understanding
The Model UN Assembly (MUNA) is part of Rotary’s programme to educate high school students about the United Nations Organisation and its commitment to world peace, health, education and living standards of people world over. It is a learning simulation of the workings of the UN General Assembly in its structure and proceedings. Students take on global citizenship as they model the Assembly and in the process, learn diplomacy and international relations, addressing and debating problems and issues of global concern.
Rotary District 3000 MUNA was hosted by RC Karur Angels and had 60 young participants from various schools, divided into three committees. Issues relating to themes such as ‘Water Conservation and Distribution in Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs),’ ‘Gender wage gap between men and women’ and ‘Female infanticide, healthcare issues and women empowerment’ were discussed at the workshop. Replete with audio systems, laptops, WiFi connectivity and LCD projectors, it gave the students a great learning experience.
“Participating in the MUN has helped me improve my public speaking and critical thinking aptitude,” said Sunil, one of the delegates. Another said, “It has helped me get over my shyness and has boosted my self-confidence.” This is what it is all about — to bring the children out of their comfort zones and break away from their protective cocoons to face the world with confidence and learn to place their views across boldly in a public forum, in addition to promoting international understanding in youngsters, said Club President S Meena.
The event was chaired by Rtn Vinitha and inaugurated by DG P Jegannathan. A panel of judges evaluated the students’ performance and the winner was felicitated with a laptop sponsored by Karur Vysya Bank and each of the three runners received a Tab sponsored by the DG.
RIIMUN ’15
A similar event was hosted by RC Pune North East, D 3131. Organised for 15 successive years by Rtn Kuldeep Jandial, District Chair MUNA, this event sees the participation of institutions from all over India and overseas. This year 225 student-delegates from 46 institutions—39 colleges and 7 schools— participated. Over the years, thanks to RIIMUN encouraging more female student participation, this year half of them were girls. Under the Teach for India umbrella, 17 children from underprivileged schools were invited.
The two-day event saw interesting debates on various subjects ranging from gender equity, women’s political participation, healthcare, rights of mediapersons in conflict zones, racial and religious discrimination, etc. The sessions were efficiently conducted by Project Director Harsh Nangia and Student Secretary General Rajdip Ray.
