As the worldbattles climate change, power hunger and all other human vices and natural disasters, Sri Lankan youth leaders rise to the challenge of shaping and improving their future. The National Youth Model United Nations (NYMUN) will be held from September 29 to 30, in Colombo.
The Model United Nations is a simulation of the United Nations and its affiliated organisations, for youth aged 16-30. It provides a platform of self expression for youth, following the modus operandi and decorum of the UN.
The NYMUN is the largest MUN youth platform in Sri Lanka, say the organisers. With trilingual facilities, it is open to all between the ages 14 to 30. Growing from a platform of 250 youth in 2016, the third session of NYMUN targets 1500 young men and women throughout the country to broaden their understanding of the pressing international development challenges and enhance their ability to analyse problems and develop target-oriented solutions. “In the process of developing policies and mechanism to address International/ national challenges, young people will learn to negotiate, compromise and adopt an open minded approach to the discourse that is taking place,” the Organising committee comments.
“We believe that by including passionate and diverse youth currently engaged in various academic and professional ventures, we will give them the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills, whilst developing perspectives and attitudes necessary for leadership and civic engagement. By engaging youth, our hope is that they come to possess the core values leaders must possess; the ability to communicate, compromise and reach sustainable solutions that are inclusive of all communities and individuals.”
In their effort to bring about tangible change to improve the status quo of Sri Lanka NYMUN envisions a national youth assembly, where the full potential of youth across the island is being taken onto one common platform; enabling youth to standby their values and to build an inclusive society to present their ideas and innovative solutions that address root causes thus bringing about advanced systematic change. Vision 2020 (NYMUN V2020) is a three year vision to inculcate the values of MUN at a national scale enabling greater youth engagement from across the island.
NYMUN 2018, would introduce the MUN concept at provincial level through workshops and, discussions at eight provinces, except the western province. They target to reach more than 100 young men and women in each province. NYMUN 2019 intends to create inter-provincial dialogue with the trained delegates applying their learned skills for dispute resolution. These Provincial MUNs are planned to be held as clustered conferences with each conference representing three provinces.
These youth empowerment sessions are set to culminate in NYMUN 2020 where 300 best delegates across the country would gather as a National Youth Assembly engaging in productive debate to bring innovative solutions to prevailing national issues and key areas for reform. “The main objective of allowing the nation’s youth to provide concrete and sustainable solutions for pertaining economic, political and social issues,” say the organisers.
The NYMUN 2018 would keep to the theme of United Nations Security Council resolution 2250, titled Youth, Peace and Security the NYMUN 2018.
It would conduct sessions with translations in all 3 languages used in the country at two of its main UN Committees and expand their Enable a Future Leader (EFL), sponsorship programme facilitating participation of youth from different districts at the Colombo session.
The Young Voice met Sasmini Bandara and Minesh Fernando, two energetic members of the NYMUN organizing committee to have some insights about their experiences.
Who or what inspired you to participate at MUN?
Minesh: It was a chance encounter at school. It was my teachers who pushed me to participate. However, it held on. I enjoyed it and continued participating in the MUNs and was selected for NYMUN2016.
Sasmini: I had not participated in MUNs in school. I was invited by a friend to participate at the NYMUN 2016. Although I was a bit reluctant at first because I had not completed the research they had given me, after attending the sessions I became very enthusiastic. I had left school by then and there’s hardly any platform for those of us who have left school to express our views. So, the NYMUN was a great opportunity. I was a delegate representing Germany and was selected the Best Novice Delegate in the EU as well.
What do you like about the NYMUN?
Sasmini: It provides an opportunity to engage with so many people from all walks of life from school children to professionals holding top positions in their fields. I especially liked my engagement with students and participants from out of Colombo. It was a good opportunity to understand their perspective about life, national and global issues. Further the trilingual sessions in 2017 were very interesting and impressive. It enhanced the inclusive platform that we were trying to create enabling everyone to be involved.
Minesh: As Sasmini said earlier, we have left school and in Sri Lanka opportunities are limited. In other countries MUN is part of the high school as well as at the university. However, Sri Lanka is a bit unusual. So, NYMUN provides a platform for school leavers to engage in and express their views. Furthermore, it is the inclusiveness. Last year we had delegations from Puttalam, Batticaloa and Kandy and the Rotaract delegation had representatives from Jaffna. It is amazing to see how much talent they have. It is fulfilling to know that we could help them hone these talents and introduce them to the national platform.
Further, the NYMUN could be the only MUN platform in the country to follow proper UN protocol. We have drawn a rulebook and have been following it since. We have actual professionals and researchers as chairpersons of the different committees. Even if they are not professionals in the field they receive ‘Chair Training’ and are well versed with the topics through research. Further, the UN is our information partner, so one could say NYMUN is the closest experience to the actual that you can get in Sri Lanka.
What are your personal and professional gains through NYMUN participation?
Minesh: Well, I was a very shy, soft spoken person. However, now I have become a public speaker. I’ve met many friends, made so many connections. I gained perspective on international affairs, improved skills including research skills and now I’m engaged in the kind of work which I never thought I would be able to do.
Sasmini: As Minesh said I have also met a lot of new friends and made many connections not only from Colombo but outside as well. I am a social worker. So, my most significant gain is understanding people and how to engage with them. I remember participating in 2016 as a novice in the EU delegation and the Chair was truly an inspiration to me. The experience taught me how to ‘handle’ people when in difficult situations. Now, as an Organising Committee Member we need to delegate work not only to those who are younger than us but to professionals and people who are much older. So, it has taught me much professionally as well.
What are the challenges you face?
Minesh: Reaching out is a challenge, taking the MUN concept to the provinces. Even though we like to take the opportunity out to the others there are many challenges. Specially in logistics and finances.
Sasmini: Yes, I wish we could have had some companies and institutions behind us encouraging and enabling the people who are participating from outstations.
What do you have to say to someone who is interested in NYMUN?
Sasmini: Come join us. You can apply individually or as a group. Our webpage contains all the information. Further, this year our partners have many gifts for registered partners. One is that the best 20 delegates will get Rs. 75,000/= worth cyber security software from our cyber security partner.
Minesh: If one is interested, we ask them to continue with us. There are different levels in participation. You could be a delegate, then a Chair and then Deputy or Assistant Secretary and up to the level of Secretary General. You will benefit from different levels as they vary in functions and responsibilities. There is much to learn.
A bit of History
The Model United Nations (MUN) sessions are believed to have resulted from the Model League of Nations simulation conferences held in the 1920s. However, the first MUN in record was held in 1949, at the St. Lawrence University, USA initiated by Dr. Harry Reiff. When the UN Charter was written in 1945 in San Francisco, Reiff was a technical advisor on the United States delegation. Then again, on the UN Organizational Conference in London in 1945-46 where the UN was established.
Today MUN is spread across the globe. It has become a popular extra-curricular activity amongst high-school students in many countries. Some countries have included the MUN in their curriculum as well.
The MUN sessions follow the procedure of actual UN sessions. However, the subjects and themes of discussions could either be simulations of historical events or current issues at hand. Conference participants benefit through building up various skills and abilities including public speaking and other communication skills, negotiation, leadership, problem solving, diplomacy, policy planning, academic research and writing and more.
NYMUN – Sri Lanka
The NYMUN was first held on August 20 and 21, 2016. The conference exposed 250 participants from various parts of the country to the dynamics and dimensions of the international political system, enabling them to debate over current issues confronting world leaders and draft resolutions in response.
The second NYMUN gathered 350 participants, and focused on the UN Security Council resolution 2250 titled Youth Peace and Security as the overall goal of the conference. Two special features introduced in 2017 is the trilingual aspect and the Enable a Future Leader (EFL), a sponsorship programme which paved way for 35 young men and women across the island to participate in the NYMUN. Both initiatives continue in the NYMUN 2018.
The Objectives of NYMUN 2018
· To engage 1500 young people in a national discourse focused on national / international development challenges
· To advocate and promote the principles of United Nations Security Council resolution 2282 & 2250 with special emphasis on peace building and conflict resolution
· To promote and create awareness among youth of the discussion on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the necessity of their involvement for it to be successful.
· To enable the theme of “inclusivity” among our participants and thereby to create a more harmonious coexistence and greater peace building efforts.
· To enable young people to make their voice heard in decision-making
processes affecting their lives
· To foster skills of negotiation and compromise among youth as tools for reconciliation and co-existence
· To create an environment for such skills to be nurtured and developed to a level of real life applicability
· To create the space for youth, men and women to network and build
professional relationships.
