Charlotte and Alicia at ‘United Nations’
Charlotte Bensted and Alicia Heywood, two year-11 students at Drouin Secondary College, attended the weekend Rotary District Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) at Phillip Island Adventure Resort in May. They visited the Drouin Rotary Club recently to speak about the experience.
Having been nominated by Rotary, they passed through the interview process conducted by Rotarians Anita Coonan and Graeme Tindle, and joined 54 other students from across the Rotary District – Gippsland and the Mornington Peninsula..
Speaking at the Rotary meeting, Charlotte and Alicia said that the “assembly” was based on the United Nations General Assembly, and the students represented a range of countries, dressed in appropriate attire, with Charlotte and Alicia taking the part of the Myanmar delegates.
Six resolutions on a range of subjects were debated, including the topical subjects of protection against global climate change, regulating international migration and violence against women and children.
The students had attended an information day at Traralgon and had been given advance notice of the topics to be debated to allow research on the subjects before the “assembly”, and to acquaint themselves with the country they were to represent.
Charlotte and Alicia said that the “assembly” had been remarkable, very inspiring and enjoyable, and gave them the opportunity to meet people from across Gippsland.
They thanked Rotary for nominating them and for the opportunity to gain this valuable experience – mentioning the behind-the-scenes political negotiations with other “nations”.
Meeting chairman was Anita Coonan, who presented each of the girls with a club banner as a memento of their visit to Drouin Rotary, and congratulated the Rotary District organising team on what was an excellent event.
In closing the meeting, president Sharryn Marshall congratulated the girls on the confidence they displayed in delivering their presentations, and thanked Anita for her work in preparing the girls for their MUNA experience.