Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

Welcome to S-SAARC
By Tharangani Perera

A commonly held view is that a person “has what it takes” to be a leader and that leadership potential is a part of our genetic makeup. Yet, history is scattered with examples of many great leaders, who attest that leadership, like many other things, is based on will, aspiration and hard work. Great leaders are not born. They are made…

Today, many leadership training programmes and programmes in civic education present an opportunity for young leaders to facilitate the development of their leadership skills. Organised by the Model United Nations Association of Ananda College, Colombo, Simulation South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (S- SAARC), which is intended to be a replication of the SAARC summit, is the latest addition to such programmes.
What is S-SAARC?

S- SAARC is a student run simulation of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) summit. It comprises the seven countries of South Asia – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Student delegates representing various SAARC member nations will address specific issues of current interest. Through debates and negotiation, they will attempt to resolve regional and international problems. They are expected to do this in a conciliatory manner to the fullest of their nation’s interests, and thus, learning to embrace the spirit of the SAARC charter. This is the first S- SAARC organised in the world.

S-SAARC will be an insight to the organisational and the diplomatic structure of the SAARC summit, while creating awareness of its functions through presenting an opportunity for students to actively participate in a ‘SAARC environment.’ It will recreate the consciousness that in an increasingly interdependent world, the objectives of peace, freedom, social justice and economic prosperity are best achieved in the South Asian region by fostering mutual understanding, good neighbourly relations and meaningful cooperation among the member states, which are bound by ties of history and culture.
What do students gain from participating in S-SAARC?

S-SAARC will provide students with an opportunity to role play as diplomats, involved in decision-making and conflict resolution at SAARC. Students will not only learn about the SAARC system, but will also find out about current economic, social and environmental issues prevailing in Southern Asia. They will learn to resolve these problems through negotiation and compromise. To this end, they are expected to develop skills of independent research, oration, resolution writing and diplomacy. As students take on the role of international diplomats, they will have to put their own views aside, and embrace the foreign policy of their respective nation. They will also learn about the conduct of formal meetings and the use of parliamentary procedure. Taking part in S-SAARC will be both hard work and fun!

What preparation is required?
All participants are required to attend the training workshops that will be held prior to the summit. During the workshops, they will learn about the organisation and functions of SAARC. Mini-debates will be held at these workshops, helping students prepare for the big event. The first of these workshops will be held at the Audio Visual Unit of Ananda College, Colombo on December 8, from 8.30 a.m.–1.00 p.m.

In addition, participants are expected to research on their assigned country and its government. Staff advisors may guide delegates in their research, and assist them in formulating a suitable foreign policy.

At S-SAARC…
Participants are expected to create a profile of the country they will represent at the conference. Here, the delegation is expected to reflect their knowledge of the country, and their ability to communicate that knowledge clearly and concisely. The profile should be created in terms of government, economy, military, culture and geography of the respective country, and demonstrate the delegation’s understanding of the country, both within SAARC and in the regional political areas. The profile should provide an overview of the country.
All participants will be allocated to one of the five committees.

These committees will deal with serious contemporary issues such as national strategies on natural disaster management, problems faced by youth and women, establishment of common currency within Southern Asia, drug control and countering terrorism. Special awards will be given on the final day of the summit to the best country profiles, best delegates from each committee and the best delegation.

Taking place from December 14-15, 2005, Simulation SAARC will be conducted with the participation of 150 students from over 25 leading schools in the island. Organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event will be telecast on Rupavahini and Art TV. Foreign delegations from India and Maldives were invited to participate in the event in an effort to heighten the atmosphere of the event and enhance its symbolic values.

The inaugural S-SAARC summit promises to be exciting and dynamic, with its attention to a wide range of backgrounds and interests. With its dedicated committee directorates and secretariat already preparing to receive the delegates, Ananda College, Colombo invites you to S-SAARC in December, for a great conference experience!

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