MUN – Model United Nations

Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or MUN is an extra-curricular activity class where students represent countries as a delegate in UN committees. It is when students come together into committees and discuss to find resolutions on certain topics. Liger has lots of experiences regarding over MUN. When I first come, I also got inspired by other students standing and talking representing their own country. Therefore this year, I’ve decided to join ISPPMUN which is a Model United Nations conference hosted by The International school Phnom Penh for the first time. Before joining this conference, I need to build up my courage and getting prepared because this is my first MUN conference. For some reasons, I was scared of public speaking and presenting to a crowd of people. Nevertheless, I’ve decided to join and break the door of shyness. I got a lot of help from my facilitators to write draft resolutions and my opening speech. The conference last for 3 days from 20-22nd of October. 

In the conference, we’ve assigned three countries including The United States of America, Mexico, and Algeria along with 10 committees such as Junior General Assembly 1 and 2, General Assembly 1-4, Security Council, Environmental Council, Human Right Council, and Economic and Social Council. Therefore, I chose to join General Assembly 4: Special Political and Decolonization representing Algeria. The theme of ISPPMUN this year is “Collaboration not Confrontation”. I was quite nervous of this, after a long wait, the ISPPMUN has come. On Friday is the day that we do our opening speech and writing draft resolutions. I was nervous because Algeria is the first country to do the opening speech alphabetically. On Saturday is continue writing resolutions and debate and last but not least, Sunday which will be the Plenary debate and Closing Ceremony. Despite all the nervousness, I manage to do my opening speech with confidence with memorization. On the second day was an intense day because it was full day writing resolutions and debating. There are three topics in my committee including, The question of Compensation of Atomic radiation damage, Repatriation of Colonial Artifacts and Government Transparency. Among these three topics, I was the Main Submitter of the Repatriation of Colonial Artifacts’s resolution. Therefore, I need to go up to the podium, read the resolutions and giving a speech. I was quiet during the first debate because I wanted to observe what is it going to look like first. Later on, I was pretty much active in other debate by asking questions and making speeches.

The conference went well thanks to the chairs, all GA4 delegates, my friends, and facilitators; furthermore, it’s me who can build up this courage to be able to speak and be the main submitter in my first MUN conference. Additionally, I strongly believe that this will continue to motivate me to join more conferences in the near future.