Model United Nations, a term yet unfamiliar? Not anymore.

For the first time, Study Hall participated in the XVII Cathedral Model United Nations which was held from the 9th of August to the 11th of August, in Mumbai. After two months of hard work, staying back after school and endless research, the 12 delegates who attended the 3 day conference, did not return with empty hands.

Eleven delegates drawn from classes 9-12 were selected and then divided into several committees dealing with their own crisis while there was one student who was amongst the fortunate ones to get selected from the entire country, for the CMUN Press Corps which only comprised 12 reporters.

They were privileged to meet students from many different schools and cities; keeping aside all their differences, delegates worked together to find practical solutions towards the betterment of the entire world. They learnt how to keep their needs aside and focus on problems that were more acute in nature. There were times, delegates were overcome by unpredictable crisis-situations, delegates were even murdered, countries were destroyed but that wasn’t the end. Keeping in mind the directives laid down in the UN Charter, young minds strived to find workable solutions to uphold the peace initiatives of the United Nations. Herein, the Study Hall students tried their best to make their presence felt and so they did.

CMUN meant many things to many of the 500 plus delegates gathered there from different parts of the country and beyond. Not only was it meant as a getaway to see a city as beautiful as Mumbai for some of the most aspiring debaters of our school along with two amazing teachers who trusted them enough to accept their maturity, but above all that it was a sharp learning experience for each one of us. Cathedral Model United Nations taught the students how to make quick and apt decisions in a very limited time, it reminded them of how beautiful yet tough the world is out there and how the power to change their future rests in their own hands. At CMUN they learnt ‘munning’ which is new-age debating. They learnt that in any situation whatsoever there is great importance given to consensus & team-play.

Some of the Committees in which we were delegates included The Historic General Assembly where they re-thought solutions to the oil crisis of 1973; The Adhoc Committee of Heads of Intelligence Agencies deliberated on the importance of intelligence services in national & international relations for global safety & security; The Futuristic General Assembly discussed the growing Al-Queda threat to the Republic of Mali; The SPECPOL delegates took up the future of Iraq after the withdrawal of American forces; The DISEC expressed concern over the growing militarization in the Arctic region; and the very interesting Lok Sabha where young leaders of tomorrow discussed the repealing of, or the re-enforcement of AFSPA in J&K as well as the north-eastern states.

So, what are we waiting for? MUN was an amazing experience and the school should encourage more & more students to participate next year. Truly, it leaves an indelible mark on those who participate. All of this; the experience, the fun, the laughter, the memories wouldn’t have been possible without Mrs. Anusha Sharma and Ms. Prachi Sarbahi, who dedicated their precious time to the development this team.
The delegates saw & listened. They carefully observed. They learnt. And now they recognise their strengths & weaknesses as well as how the limits can stretch to infinity. Study Hall has decided to evolve a strong set of debaters and editors who will aim at excelling in both. This is us, the students, striving for excellence.

**An interesting input from Arusha (Delegate of South Africa in the HGA) It’s funny how I just realized the actual meaning of the adage, ‘You never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory.’ MUN-ing is one of the most invigorating and enriching experiences I have gained. It was by far the most knowledgeable too. The confidence I gained while speaking in front of highly experienced MUN-ners, was remarkable. I must admit that I have never felt this confident before. This experience was about learning history (you never knew existed), about having the guts to be able to speak your views out and of course the amazing view from the Rooftop of the Trident!

**An interesting feedback from Abhilaksh (Delegate of South Africa in the FGA) ‘MUN? What is that?’ This was my very initial reaction when I had first heard this acronym. I later discovered that it stood for Model United Nations. It was indeed an obscure word then but I soon found out that it is a simulation of the United Nations. It is essentially a forum for young people like me and you to debate upon the burning issues in the world and find pragmatic solutions for them. Each participant represents a particular country and acts as a delegate of that nation. We had decided to go for Cathedral Model United Nations, one of India’s first MUNs hosted by Cathedral and John Connon School to be held in August in Mumbai. The D-day fast approached and The Trident awaited us. After hours of hard work and research with our faculty advisors, we landed at Mumbai on the 8th of August. The three days that followed can only be described as exhilarating and unforgettable. We were exposed to a variety of new thoughts, people and to expound on the learning that happened would take pages altogether. It has not just enhanced our linguistic ability and recognised the Cicero in us; it has also sensitized us towards the critical problems the people of the world face today. It is imperative that today’s youth lead from the forefront and work towards the betterment of the upcoming generation. Last but not the least; we feel highly motivated to work for the attainment of peace and harmony in the world through deliberation and talks. We were awestruck by the fact that an event of such magnitude had been run solely by the student body of the school and we learnt much from their managerial skills. It reflected in their handling of food, allocations, transportation and nitty-gritty of the conference in a very meticulous manner. I strongly recommend all students to participate in such events and gain positively from it.