Hindustan Times (Lucknow) - Hindustan Times (Lucknow) - Live
UNITED FOR THE NATIONS!
The fourth chapter of the La Martiniere Girls’ Model United Nations (LMGMUN) hosted by La Martiniere Girls’ College, Lucknow, was held with the motto ‘Unitas Justitia Spes’. It saw the participation of schools from all over India. LMGMUN provides a platform to the students who aspire to be the leaders of tomorrow.
The event saw participation by over 300 students between the age of 13-19 years who simulated the diplomats whose profiles they were assigned. A total of seven committees had been set — United Nations Security Council, World Health Organisation, United Nations General Assembly, The Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ), US Senate, Joint Crisis Committee: John F Kennedy’s Cabinet and Fidel Castro’s Cabinet.
The participants debated confidently as they questioned the Opposition’s policies or a certain country’s stance on a disputed island. “Participating in MUNs has helped improve my public speaking skills apart from increasing my awareness of International Politics,” said Anabia Rukh, a class 9 student at La Martiniere Girls’ College.
“At LMGMUN, we ensure that the first timers, especially, gain confidence at voicing their opinions and stating their political views with convictions and without inhibition. We give all the delegates the opportunity to participate in the committee sessions and also, by means of this, ensure that each one of them is aware of the political background and qualifications of the dignitary whose profile they hold. Most importantly, through participation in MUNs, one learns to work during a crisis in a short time,” told Ishita Khanna, head of Logistics.
Ishaani Basu, another delegate at the MUN from La Martiniere Girls’ College, Calcutta, says, “The first time I participated at an MUN was at my school in Calcutta. Because we have a special committee dedicated to research that starts operating six months prior to the main event, I felt relatively at ease as a beginner.”
Students debated on various perennial world issues such as maintaining international peace and security, crime, education, foreign policy, immigration and many more. The focus was more on coming up with the solutions. Student delegates say the event has helped them become confident and meticulous. Gouri Lavania, a class 11 student, said that MUNs have helped her learn the art of diplomacy and persuasion.
Some students view MUN as a value added certificate programme. Shrestha Srivastava, a class 11 student at City Montessori School, Gomti Nagar Branch, said, “It takes your curriculum-vitae to another level.”
Saransh Alexander Kumar, 16, a class 11 student from La Martiniere College said, “This is a platform where students can voice their opinion about the world crisis as well as we get to learn a lot from the foreign delegates who moderate the session.” Saransh loves The closing ceremony saw Sehba Hussain as the chief guest who spoke about the working of world governments and various social issues. This was followed by the prize distribution and distribution of certificates.
LMGMUN owes its success to the principal Aashrita Dass, the faculty advisor, A Ambili, the secretary general, Vanshika Sharma, the deputy secretary general, Kashish Gupta, the under secretary general for finance, Aaddhyaa Rastogi, undersecretary general for delegate affairs, Aayra Angrish, the under secretary general for administer, Khushi Mehrotra, Heads of Logistics, Ishita Khanna and Diva Shukla, Head of IT and Design, Zaina Qasim.