MODEL UNITED NATIONS OF HAMBURG: GFA SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF POLICY MAKERS
By the end of September, the 18th annual Model United Nations of Hamburg (MUNoH) took place at Gymnasium Meiendorf. The five-day conference brought together approximately 200 high school students from around the world and Germany to discuss international issues, from human rights to security, while representing their assigned countries. GFA had the pleasure to support the event as a major sponsor.
Taking on the role of delegates, the participants of the event researched their countries’ positions, presented arguments, and worked with others to find common ground. Along the way, they strengthened their research, public speaking, debating and negotiation skills. The general assembly was structured exactly as a true UN general assembly would be with the chair opening the meeting, delegates setting the agenda, and delegates professionally raising points or motions. Debates were spirited as the students really took on the role of the representative of their given country with the final task being to draft a resolution.
As the executive team, students also played the major role behind the scenes. They were the ones to invite participating schools, choose the issues to be debated at the conference, assign countries for the delegates, train chairs to lead the debates, find as many host families as possible for the guests at Gymnasium Meiendorf and choose suitable guest speakers on the topics discussed. How students handled unexpected challenges also showed their resilience. When a speaker showed up several hours before their originally planned slot, students coordinated the new schedule changes, communicated it to students, and prepared rooms to accommodate the speaker’s schedule.
“Students really take on every aspect of this conference,” said supervising teacher Ms. Inge Breckwoldt. “They are responsible for organizing the schedule, contacting sponsors, coordinating attendees, and making sure the event runs smoothly. This responsibility really prepares them for the future!”
Students from as far away as Ghana attended the event, allowing for a more diverse set of voices and cultural exchange at the event. “For my students, aged between 11 and 16, this was their first time abroad” supervisor for the representative from Ghana said. “They really have the opportunity to experience something new here and explore opportunities for education in the future.” Showing students opportunities in other countries gives them a clearer picture of the paths open to them, including the possibility of studying in Germany after high school.
GFA Consulting Group is happy to support an event that gives the next generation of potential policy makers the chance to engage with global issues and take real responsibility for bringing a conference to life.
The event closed with rousing speeches given by the executive team in the general assembly room filled with students, teachers, and volunteers. Timo Christian, director of curriculum at Gymnasium Meiendorf, made his thoughts clear: “I’m so impressed with the way these students handle themselves; to be this professional at their age shows they are capable of handling the real world after graduation.”
> Find out more on the event website
