Students Xavier Swetman & Thalia Mitchell with Director-Youth and tonight's meeting Chair Anita Coonan
Two of the four student who went from Drouin Secondary College to this year's Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) at the Peninsula Adventure Camp in May came and told us about their experience.
 
Thalia Mitchell and Xavier Swetman were sponsored by Drouin Rotary while Taylah Cunningham and Emily Little  were generously sponsored by Warragul Rotary.
 
Thalia & Xavier, who were complimented by members on the excellent presentation - both content and their style - told us how inspiring the weekend and whole experience had been. They told us that being nominated as the Chinese delegation, and given a number of topics about which debate would occur e.g. imposing new sanctions on Peoples Republic of Korea, they were required to do research into how and why the Chinese delegation would argue and vote. Then, at the camp, they were expected to lobby and negotiate with other delegations while building partnerships and alliances.
 
Both students shared with us their appreciation of experiencing a different way of looking at issues, although their fundamental views and attitudes had not been significantly changed.
 
They also said that the special speakers between debates were inspirational and left a lasting impression of them both.
 
In thanking the student, President Tim said that one of the key characteristics of great leaders is their ability/desire to understand before trying to be understood. This experience has shown the students why that is so important.