On November 14th to November 16th, nineteen of CIPLC’s high school students attended the XXIV South American Model United Nations Conference (SAMUN), in Colegio Internacional de Caracas (CIC).In this conference, students were able to demonstrate their debating and critical thinking skills to solve real world problems with students from five other schools throughout Venezuela.
These nineteen students attended several MUN meetings before the actual conference, where they chose a country to represent and a committee to be part of. Once these were chosen, students had to write position papers about their issues regarding the country they represented, and had to think about possible solutions to be presented in the conference to solve that problem. Additionally, students had to write opening speeches to be presented in front of the delegates of their committees. After weeks of preparation, CIPLC students were ready to face yet another SAMUN conference.
The nineteen students along with Ms. Finnegan and Mr. Tibor left Puerto La Cruz on Wednesday afternoon, arriving in Caracas on Wednesday night. That night, students did nothing but relax and prepare themselves for a very busy day: Day 1 of conferences.
On Thursday the 14th, students woke up at 6am in order to prepare themselves with appropriate formal attire and to have an enriching breakfast to fuel them for the debates that would take place for the rest of the day. As they arrived to CIC, students participated in the opening ceremony, where directors and the Secretary General of the conference gave speeches about what Model United Nations was all about. After that, students had the opportunity to talk to ambassadors from various countries such as New Zealand and India, in order to clear any doubts they might have had on issues and countries. After clearing their doubts, students were ready to go to their first session, where they would give their first speeches. The sessions went on until 4:30pm, with short breaks in between and a staggered lunch.
Friday was not much different; students engaged in more fruitful debates and came up with several resolutions that were submitted with other countries or delegates that agreed, to be presented in the General Assembly on Saturday. Though each committee only had around two issues, the chairs of each committee decided to include emergency issues, where delegates had to come up with possible solutions for the conflict presented in a small amount of time and with little knowledge behind it. One thing different about Friday was that it was a longer day for the SAMUN delegates. Sessions went on until 5:30, and delegates had a dinner at CIC, where they enjoyed hamburgers while socializing with other delegates. This was a nice break from all the formal talking earlier.
Saturday was the most important day, the day the delegates had all been waiting for: their resolutions would be presented in front of other committees. After working arduously on realistic solutions, these had to be presented in front of a General Assembly, where several committees join to discuss all resolutions together. After presenting these resolutions, the entire assembly had to either vote for or against. Unfortunately, CIPLC students had to leave early due to the flight back to Barcelona, and missed several presentations of resolutions and the closing ceremony, where awards were given out. Lama and Jesenia were submitters of a resolution, but since they had to leave early, their resolution was not presented.
Though CIPLC students were at first nervous and were sure they wouldn’t speak a lot in the committees, they were all impressed by the amount of times they stood up. Every time they went up to the podium to speak, their confidence level rose, which caused them to speak even more. “Our participation was more than I expected. Much more!” said Pedro. “I am really happy with CIPLC’s performance, and I’ll join MUN next year for sure!” he added.
After weeks of hard work and hours of debating, CIPLC students felt fulfilled with the result. But it isn’t over yet! The next MUN conference is coming up in February, where 10 lucky students will get to go to Boston’s University MUN conference in Massachusetts. Motion to relax until February? That is in order. Please proceed, delegate.
By: Carolina Franco
These nineteen students attended several MUN meetings before the actual conference, where they chose a country to represent and a committee to be part of. Once these were chosen, students had to write position papers about their issues regarding the country they represented, and had to think about possible solutions to be presented in the conference to solve that problem. Additionally, students had to write opening speeches to be presented in front of the delegates of their committees. After weeks of preparation, CIPLC students were ready to face yet another SAMUN conference.
The nineteen students along with Ms. Finnegan and Mr. Tibor left Puerto La Cruz on Wednesday afternoon, arriving in Caracas on Wednesday night. That night, students did nothing but relax and prepare themselves for a very busy day: Day 1 of conferences.
On Thursday the 14th, students woke up at 6am in order to prepare themselves with appropriate formal attire and to have an enriching breakfast to fuel them for the debates that would take place for the rest of the day. As they arrived to CIC, students participated in the opening ceremony, where directors and the Secretary General of the conference gave speeches about what Model United Nations was all about. After that, students had the opportunity to talk to ambassadors from various countries such as New Zealand and India, in order to clear any doubts they might have had on issues and countries. After clearing their doubts, students were ready to go to their first session, where they would give their first speeches. The sessions went on until 4:30pm, with short breaks in between and a staggered lunch.
Friday was not much different; students engaged in more fruitful debates and came up with several resolutions that were submitted with other countries or delegates that agreed, to be presented in the General Assembly on Saturday. Though each committee only had around two issues, the chairs of each committee decided to include emergency issues, where delegates had to come up with possible solutions for the conflict presented in a small amount of time and with little knowledge behind it. One thing different about Friday was that it was a longer day for the SAMUN delegates. Sessions went on until 5:30, and delegates had a dinner at CIC, where they enjoyed hamburgers while socializing with other delegates. This was a nice break from all the formal talking earlier.
Saturday was the most important day, the day the delegates had all been waiting for: their resolutions would be presented in front of other committees. After working arduously on realistic solutions, these had to be presented in front of a General Assembly, where several committees join to discuss all resolutions together. After presenting these resolutions, the entire assembly had to either vote for or against. Unfortunately, CIPLC students had to leave early due to the flight back to Barcelona, and missed several presentations of resolutions and the closing ceremony, where awards were given out. Lama and Jesenia were submitters of a resolution, but since they had to leave early, their resolution was not presented.
Though CIPLC students were at first nervous and were sure they wouldn’t speak a lot in the committees, they were all impressed by the amount of times they stood up. Every time they went up to the podium to speak, their confidence level rose, which caused them to speak even more. “Our participation was more than I expected. Much more!” said Pedro. “I am really happy with CIPLC’s performance, and I’ll join MUN next year for sure!” he added.
After weeks of hard work and hours of debating, CIPLC students felt fulfilled with the result. But it isn’t over yet! The next MUN conference is coming up in February, where 10 lucky students will get to go to Boston’s University MUN conference in Massachusetts. Motion to relax until February? That is in order. Please proceed, delegate.
By: Carolina Franco