Our MUNA students tell us of their experience

The Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA)

     The Model United Nations Assembly is a significant International Rotary Youth Program in which our District participates.

     Senior high school students develop an awareness of the United Nations and the countries they represent at a simulated UN Assembly.  The event provides an excellent forum for students to develop and practice their public speaking skills whilst debating on topical world issues.

     MUNA has been held in many Rotary Districts around Australia since 1980.

     The Drouin Club recently sponsored two students, Alicia Heywood and Charlotte Benstead both, are Year 11 students at Drouin Secondary College.

The MUNA activity involves a pre briefing and then a weekend away with students from other Colleges.

     Each College is provided with a country that they are to represent and a number of resolutions which they are to debate.

     Alicia and Charlotte were allocated the country of Myanmar and their resolution related to the repressed Rohingya population.

Apart from preparing their debate, students also need to spend time negotiating and trading with other “Countries” to support their own proposal. In this the girls were successful in gaining support for their proposition of protection of the Rohingya by doing trade deals with other “Countries”.

     Both Alicia and Charlotte said that it was a wonderful experience, not just in mixing with other students, in developing communication and negotiating skills, but also in learning more about the world.

     Alicia also expressed her appreciation of the Club’s recent donation to the College’s D.O.V.E project where she was part of a party of students who travelled to work in Thailand early this year. She said that it was indeed a life changing experience.

    Chairman Anita thanked the girls on their excellent presentation, along with President Sharryn, who also thanked the parents for their attendance and support of the girl’s participation.