High school students flock to Malaspina's Model United Nations conference

Over 120 Vancouver Island high school students will gather at Malaspina University-College in Nanaimo next week to practise international diplomacy.

The students will attend Malaspina’s first Model United Nations conference February 19 to 21. The conference marks the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, and is co-hosted by the Malaspina’s Global Studies program and Global Studies Students' Association (GSSA) under the guidance of instructor Catherine Schittecatte.

"It’s a great opportunity for Grade 10, 11 and 12 students to engage in international debate on pressing global issues and enhance their skills in public speaking, debating, diplomacy and negotiation," explained Malaspina Global Studies student Doug Thurber, project director and Secretary General for the conference.

Each high school team will represent a certain country, and delegates will serve on six simulated United Nations committees to discuss issues including HIV and AIDS in Africa, women’s rights, child poverty and the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Major General Guy Tousignant, former United Nations Force Commander, who served as Assistant Secretary General to the UN for Rwanda in 1994, is keynote speaker at the conference's opening ceremonies Sunday night. Tousignant retired from the military and then served as Secretary General of CARE International, a global non-governmental organization for human development work in third world countries.

Nanaimo-Cowichan MP Jean Crowder, the NDP critic for Health, Community Economic Development and the Status of Women, will address delegates Monday afternoon, while BC’s Lieutenant Governor, Iona Campagnolo will meet and speak with delegates at the closing ceremonies on Tuesday. Campagnola will also award six $500 scholarships to the best conference delegates.

"We’re thrilled to have these accomplished and influential individuals attending Malaspina’s inaugural Model United Nations conference," said Thurber. "They’re excellent role models for young people and bring a wealth of experience to the conference."

High school teams include Dover Bay, Woodlands, Wellington, John Barsby and Nanaimo District Secondary schools from Nanaimo, Cowichan Secondary, Ladysmith Secondary, Ballenas Secondary in Parksville, Kwalikum Secondary in Qualicum Beach, Oak Bay Secondary in Victoria and Frances Kelsey Secondary in Mill Bay.

"We're very pleased with the response from high schools," said Thurber. "We hoped for at least 100 participants. The interest exceeded our expecations."

Delegates must follow protocol, diplomatic language, dress code and rules for speaking, including how to address fellow delegates and how to break into informal groups to negotiate. "They're expected to come fully prepared to debate their country's position on various issues," said Thurber. "As United Nations diplomats, their job is to debate, persuade and negotiate with other committee members in order to reach resolutions."

A team of 20 Malaspina students from Global Studies, Business and Political Science programs have devoted hundreds of hours to help organize the conference. "It's been an enormous amount of work but everyone involved feels that it's important to give high school students the opportunity to participate in a conference like this," said Thurber. "Several students on our organizing team have already attended Model United Nations conferences at the university level. They know first-hand the value of this type of learning experience."

Thurber hopes the conference will encourage high school delegates to consider the field of international relations when they attend university and pursue their careers.

For more information about Malaspina's Model United Nations conference, visit the Global Studies program homepage at www.viu.ca/globalstudies/ and click on the Model United Nations link.