Costa young UN conference
Students from around the world attend Model UN debate
STUDENTS swapped the classroom for the debating chamber of the United Nations and the challenge of world affairs at a special Costa Blanca conference.
The youngsters, aged between 14 and 18, attended the two-day Model United Nations Conference hosted by The Lady Elizabeth School at Cumbre del Sol, Benitachell.
Organised by the International Schools Partnership, 151 students travelled from as far afield as the United States, Mexico and Dubai to join pupils from Laude Schools across Spain and the Lady Elizabeth School for the 'exciting and challenging' conference.
Run under real UN rules and staged in English, the theme for the conference was ‘together we can make a difference’.
Each delegate represented one of 46 different countries and sat on seven different committees; under discussion were topics as diverse as North Korea, prevention of illegal drug taking, preventing an arms race in outer space, education for all, changing to renewable energy and LGBT rights.
After an opening ceremony last Thursday evening in Calpe, debates were staged on Friday, there was a ‘social’ the same evening, and the conference was formally closed on Saturday morning.
María Alfonso, who gave up her day job as a sixth form student at Lady Elizabeth School to become the UN Secretary General at the conference, said delegates applied to be members of each committee and the topic they wanted to debate.
“We have 12 delegates from Louisiana in the USA, 60 from Mexico, 12 from Dubai and the rest are from Laude schools across Spain and our own school,” she explained.
“I have been talking to everyone; they have really enjoyed it because inside the committee rooms when they are debating, it is really serious, the chair is very strict and the debates follow the same procedure of the UN.”
Outside the committee rooms and during breaks and the social there was also the opportunity for students to meet, share experiences and make new friends.
“It is amazing to see 14 and 15 year olds talk about such pressing and serious subjects – if you close your eyes you would think they were aged 40 or 50. I think it’s so good young people know about such topics and are aware such global problems exist,” said María.
“And I am sure that when our generation becomes working age and gets into politics, they will be looking for peace and to solve world problems; it is events like this that get young people prepared.”
She said the conference was organised by 'students for students' and preparations started last October.
A team of 15 sixth form students made up a dedicated backstage crew organising the rooms, security passes, food and directing delegates to the correct location.
And 18 pupils from the first year of senior school acted as security officers in the committee rooms in charge of passing votes, questions and controlling the ballots.
“It’s great they are so young, and because they have to be in the debates they hear everything – I am sure that will help them get involved in the future,” said María.
“I am sure there will be more conferences in the future; I have spoken with younger students because I want them to continue and get involved. We also have the support of the teachers and the International Schools Partnership – you need the backup.”
María was one of three students who travelled to a Model United Nations Conference in Mexico last year, and when it was announced the event was to be staged on the Costa Blanca, enthusiastically applied to be Secretary General and was supported by her colleagues.
Photographs of the conference were taken by Greta Gridinaite, who kindly agreed to supply a selection to Costa Blanca News.