Model Davis College pupils set to show a united front
MORE THAN 550 PUPILS FROM ACROSS EUROPE TO TAKE PART IN UN SIMULATION
STUDENTS from Mallow’s Davis College are set to once again preside over an international youth conference based on the United Nation model that offers delegates the chance to discuss issues of key global importance.
The seventh consecutive Davis College Model United Nations (DCMUN) offers students between the ages of 13-18 a forum to debate issues of concern with their peers from different backgrounds and cultures.
The event, which will run from next Tuesday to Friday at the Cork City Hall, is the biggest of its kind in Ireland with more than 550 students from 38 Irish, Spanish and Portuguese school set to participate.
Based on the working frameworks of the real United Nations, it will see participants assume the roles of delegates from UN affiliated countries and Non Governmental Organisations (NGO’s), with pupils from Davis College assuming the roles of senior UN officials.
Each of the groups will be tasked with researching their assigned geographical delegation, finding out where it stands on pressing matters of social and environmental importance and preparing resolutions to be put before the General Assembly and Security Council.
These are then debated with their peers before a vote is taken on them, as would happen in the real UN forum.
Subjects tackled over the course of the week will include the Israeli – Arab conflict, trade wars and increased import tariffs, alternative energy sources, tensions in the Arabian Peninsula & threats to crude oil exploration and Islamophobia.
Throughout the week a number of dignitaries will address the conference including the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr John Sheehan and Cork Education and Training Board CEO Denis Leamy and the Polish and Latvian ambassadors.
The keynote speaker for the event will be Irish activist, sports journalist, and Millstreet native Joanne O’Riordan.
Joanne suffers from Tetra-amelia syndrome and has previously spoken before the United Nations.
The conference is the brainchild of Davis College deputy principal Jose Horta, who brought the idea from his native Portugal when he moved to Ireland eight-years-ago.
Since then the initiative has, in the words of Mr Horta “grown arms and legs” gaining national and international recognition for its innovative use of the UN structure in encouraging young people to become socially aware and involved within their communities.
Mr Horta said he had watched with pride as the initiative developed over the years.
“From the beginning, the aim of DCMUN 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 particularly 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.