Planning to save the world
What's it like to be at the UN? Students in Colombo found out through
CO-MUN. Ishani Ranasinghe reports
Outside the hall, they seem just a bunch of normal teenagers, girls with flowing hair and hoop earrings and guys with spiky hairdos, all laughing and sharing jokes. But once inside, it all changes. There is an air of gravity and intent around them. With determined looks on their faces, it looks as if they are out to conquer (or save) the world.

This is Colombo Model United Nations (CO-MUN) where students learn to interact as diplomats, mediators, problem solvers and ambassadors of the future.

Resolutions were being passed, permission to speak was being requested over and over again - sometimes heatedly, amendments were being discussed, issues were being debated, votes were being taken. On the agenda were topics as diverse as nuclear activity, trade in rough diamonds to fund armed terrorists and health care in Africa.

Surprisingly, the usual teenage lingo was abandoned during the assembly (that is of course within the conference hall) in their efforts to speak formally, emulating the language of the UN.

It sure was serious business, but it was all in a day's work for everyone at the Colombo Model United Nations. Started in 1994 by the Overseas School of Colombo on the initiative taken by a staff member, Sandra Fernando, CO-MUN saw the coming together of just four schools. Today it has expanded with over 35 schools and a few from Pakistan and India as well.

The 9th annual session of CO-MUN was held from March 7 to 9. The informal sessions and the debates were conducted on the first two days at the Overseas School of Colombo and the sessions concluded with the general assembly at BMICH.

This conference provides students the opportunity of role-playing diplomats involved in decision-making and conflict resolution at the United Nations. They not only get an understanding of the United Nation system but also discuss economic, social and environmental issues significant in today's world. The delegates learn to resolve these problems through negations and compromise.

Tracy Wai of the Overseas School of Colombo is the Secretary General this year. Calm and collected, Tracy who came to Sri Lanka in 2000 said she got into MUN quite by accident. "When I first came, I was having this debate with my co-ordinator about a subject I wanted to do." She went on to say that the co-ordinator felt that she should try out being a delegate considering how good she was at proving her point.

Starting off as a delegate for France for the third committee (social, humanitarian and cultural) she received a certificate as one of the best delegates of the year. "Last year I was the chairperson for the third committee which was quite interesting." She also learnt the art of dealing with people and the challenge of being friendly and at the same time firm with her peers and earning their respect as chairperson.

Now at the highest rung, Tracy at 17 is the youngest Secretary General. She admits that it was a lot of hard work, "We were in school till about 10 in the night almost everyday preparing for this."

As Secretary General, it is Tracy's job to review procedure. Once the information is gathered, the students role-play delegates at the conference and the procedure followed. Information is gathered and training sessions are conducted on the subjects of speech writing, resolution writing etc.

Once the school confirms their participation for the General Assembly, countries are assigned to the delegates and topics for discussion are chosen from the UN agenda.

Every student gets a certificate of participation and a special certificate of merit is given to delegates who best represent the countries allocated to them and fulfill their duties skillfully. So how are these delegates chosen?

"I sit through the sessions and observe the delegates who have been recommended by the chairpersons of their respective committees," says Tracy. "This year we have introduced a new concept called 'statement foreign policy', where the delegates are given a questionnaire to answer in order to get to the conference. We do this to make sure that the delegates have the right information about their foreign policies."

It is also important to know that they are not breaking their foreign policy. "This rarely happens because of the commitment of the delegates. If one was to go against your country's foreign policy, it will always be pointed out by another delegate or the chairperson will point it out." So there is no chance of bluffing your way through this conference.

She also says that what matters is being good delegates rather than being good debators. "Some come in thinking that just because they are good debators, they can come here and take over but that is not the case."

So what has the whole effort taught her? "Well, it was a very interesting experience, I learned a lot and am surprised that they don't hate me yet."

She says that there is a chance that might happen in a few hours. Why I wonder? "There is going to be a small emergency about 1.00 p.m where the Security Council will have to form a resolution at short notice on the crisis in Iraq. They are still unaware of it," she says, eyes twinkling.

It is an amazing opportunity for these students to take the role of international diplomats. They have to put aside their own views and embrace the foreign policy of the nations they are assigned to. This allows them to develop a broader view of international relations and appreciate others' viewpoints. So how do the participants feel?

Yusuf Zarani, here for the second year was a delegate representing Chile at the Security Council. "Because it is a new concept to us, it was at times a bit tough, but on the whole, it was a good experience where I learnt a lot," he said. So why did he choose the Security Council? "Well, it is the best," was the enthusiastic reply I got.

"One thing I learnt was, at the end of the day, no matter how much of research you have done, what matters is how diplomatic you are," is what Niranjali Amarasinghe had to day. A first timer at the MUN conference, she represented Cameroon.

Apart from the delegates, Ms. Vyette Uyangoda, teacher in charge of the delegation from Holy Family Convent was also enthusiastic: "This conference gives the students confidence to interact with each other on an intellectual level. Other clubs are more at a social capacity while the MUN has both."

"Over the years, MUN has come a long way and has really helped the students."

Model United Nations is a perfect opportunity for students to experience a higher level of interaction and achieve a higher level of diplomacy.

As for becoming future leaders, judging by their commitment and determination, I wouldn't be surprised if some of them do end up in the United Nations, changing the world and helping people.

Seize the moment
By (not) an acute Nerd
Last Sunday, sitting at a class trying to absorb into my head what I had learnt in the past few months, I suddenly realised something shocking. How unfocused I was with my life.

To put it straight, I am not driven by the desire to seek one qualification after the other.

Wonder how all this came into my mind when I was 'supposed' to be studying? Well, it was all because I happened to overhear a conversation a few girls were having behind me. There I was, sitting in front trying to figure out why I never learnt the art of studying after all these years, and they were discussing getting two degrees instead of one, diplomas plus this and that qualification. Shocked? Don't be, 'cos this is what most of us are driven to these days.

After our A/Ls, after all the cramming that has been done, many of us want to just sit back and relax and unwind, at least for a while. But that is not the case. Many opt to go straight back into studying and piling up qualification after qualification. What's more, many youngsters don't do this because that is what they want. Some of them are pressurised by their parents and most often the parents do this 'cos society is pressurising them.

I am not saying it is bad to be ambitious. I think it's quite great that some young people know what they want to do, are focused and willing to work so hard. Giving it much thought, I have to say they do have a point. When you know what you want, all you have to do is work towards achieving it. Time should not be wasted doubting and having second thoughts.

Getting back to the people behind me, it was really amazing that here we were during the break wondering if we should go see Wildfire playing or not and there they were wondering if they could have done better at their A/Ls which was some time ago.

I wonder how much they might be missing out. They have never goofed around with friends, passed notes during class, never stepped out of line, but then again - I have at times been proven wrong. They do have fun but a bit different from ours. I don't think I should really judge them, but then it's hard not to when all you hear about is studies, diplomas and degrees... why not live a little please?

Some of us have opted to work while studying. I think most of us do it for almost the same reason - dying of boredom at home and also wanting a bit of pocket money to spend without feeling guilty about wasting your parents' money. But for others, it is unthinkable to work at this point. If you are finding it hard to believe, I know this for a fact 'cos I have been asked the question many times. Why would I be working now? It is not something they have planned out and working would disturb your concentration.

The common logic behind this as they say, is that having a whole heap of qualifications would help when you are to be considered for a job. In this highly competitive world we live in, they feel that the extra qualification might get their interviewer to choose them over the other applicants.

Managers of a few 'blue chip' companies who wished not to be named said that when they have vacancies they get a whole heap of people who come with a bunch of paper qualifications. "That does not necessarily mean that we would choose them over the others. What we look for is whether the individual has the personality and that extra touch that is required for the job." But they also mention that if the diploma in question is something to do with the job, then the added qualification would carry weight.

I still wonder... what is it that drives these kids to go hunting for qualifications and working non-stop to achieve them. When would they pause for a few minutes and take a glance at life that is whizzing past them? When they finally do, I hope it won't be too late.

Back to Top

Back to Mirror Magazine

Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Webmaster