Davis College United Nations event is the model of diplomacy
PUPILS from Mallow’s Davis College are currently presiding over an international youth conference in Cork at which delegates are being given the chance to discuss key issues of global importance.
Now in its fourth year, the Davis College Model United Nations (DCMUN) offers young people between the ages of 1318 a forum for debating issues with their peers from different cultures and backgrounds.
The event, which has been running all week at Cork City Hall, sees students from Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Austria and Angola come together in a student-run simulation of the UN General Assembly.
Among the keynote speakers to address delegates at this year event were Amnesty International president Colm O’Gorman, Lord Mayor of Cork Des Cahill, John Carmody of the Animal Rights Action Network and Aisling McGrath from World Wise Global Schools.
For the purposes of the event, pupils from Davis College have once again assumed the role of senior UN officials, with visiting students assigned to be delegates for a particular UN affiliated country or NGO (Non Governmental Organisation).
Each group was then tasked with researching their assigned delegation, finding out where it stood on issues of pressing global significance, preparing and delivering speeches and entering into debate on a wide variety of issues during conference sessions.
Subjects tackled over the course of the week included human trafficking, the mental well-being of young people, alternative energies and climate change, media censorship, reform of the UN, animal rights and universal access to education.
Event organiser Dr Jose Horta, a teacher Davis College has watched with pride as the initiative he started four years ago grew from humble beginnings at the school into an annual event of global significance.
“From the beginning, the aim of DCMUM was to encourage young people to use their communication, teamwork and leadership skills to hold informed debate and come up with new, inventive solutions to the issues under discussion,” said Dr Horta.
“This is a student run event for students and I am very proud of the way that pupils from Davis College have taken ownership of it and driven it to become bigger and more encompassing with each passing year,” he added.
That passion for the whole project was summed up by Davis College pupil and DCMUN Secretary General, 18-year-old Hope Williams.
“It has been so exciting to see the conference come to life after so much work and planning. I firmly believe that the best way to learn about the UN is by actually doing it. This process gives all participants an insight into different countries, global issues and understanding the perspectives of others,” said Hope.
“This conference is also a fantastic way to meet and spend time with fellow Irish students who share the same passion, and to meet those visiting from abroad,” she added.