UAE pupils become UN diplomats for the day

School pupils across Abu Dhabi have taken part in a mock UN conference, designed to improve their leadership and public speaking skills.

Tom Atkinson, 12, left, and an Al Yasmina pupil, with Abdullah Al Maini, 10, an Al Muna primary pupil, before they speak at the debate. Silvia Razgova / The National

ABU DHABI // Schoolchildren from across the capital have had a taste of life as international representatives at the United Nations.

The pupils from Aldar Academies presented their strategies for providing safe, clean drinking water across the globe as part of the three-day Montessori Model United Nations (Mmun), held at Al Bateen Secondary School.

Each team was given a country to represent and presented their proposals in front of their peers on Tuesday.

As well as learning about the subject matter of water sanitation and conservation, the programme was designed to improve the pupils’ debating, communication, leadership and public speaking skills.

“I felt like it was a good opportunity to see how we work together and solve global problems,” said Murat Edip, 14, from Al Bateen Secondary School.

“It has been really good fun and very interesting. We all put our ideas together and we found we worked better when we all worked together. I knew about the UN but I did not know how it all worked, so it is nice to see,” he said.

“I think it was a great learning experience,” said 15-year-old Nikita Anir, from Al Yasmina School.

“Sometimes at this age you get bogged down in the little trivial details of everyday life, so we were given a completely different perspective and realised that we are not living in a bubble and there is a big world out there.

“It causes you to realise that there are so many different perspectives and opinions and the world is constantly changing,” she said.

“It makes you step out of your own skin for a little while. The fact we talked about water, which is a basic human need, I’m sure a lot of us now are starting to think about these things that we take for granted living in the UAE.

“The students always knock my socks off,” said Judith Cunningham, executive director at the Mmun.

“I can’t believe the kind of idealism and creative thinking. These students worked outside of class, not because we told them that this was homework, but because they wanted to have their thoughts and ideas shared.

“They speak with authority, conviction and passion about the world’s problems.”

She said that the programme also gives the students a chance to research their assigned countries.

“They also have to learn about their country, then they have to understand the topic, clean water, then they have to put it together with the view of their country’s position. Next they write an opening speech and then hear each others point of view and find common ground. They are definitely some of our future leaders,” she said.

“Mmun provides an extraordinary platform to develop a participant’s ability to work with others, their ability to listen to the views of others and the ability to collaborate respectfully with others,” said Nilay Ozral, chief executive of Aldar Academies.

“Mmun focuses on peace, cooperation and compromise and provides a unique opportunity for students to develop themselves in a simulated learning experience grounded in peace and global citizenship, the values of the United Nations.”

Mr Ozral added: “Mmun provides an opportunity to discuss pressing issues of global importance such as the theme of the Abu Dhabi conference, which is water sustainability and reach patiently negotiated agreement with other delegates on the best courses of action for the mutual benefit of all citizens of the world.”

The event was held in preparation for an international conference to take place in the UAE at the end of the year.

Those who excel at the event will have the chance to represent the UAE at a later model UN conference in Geneva or New York City.