THIMUN SINGAPORE - 2017
This year our school saw a delegation of 13 thriving MUNners from Grade 9 ICSE and Grade 10 IGCSE find their way to the Hague Model United Nations held in Singapore between the 19th and 24th of November. They represented an array of countries including Congo, Nauru and Tajikistan in 7 varied committees of the renowned forum. While representing their own distinct policies, reaching a consensus was challenging and they enthusiastically lobbied and debated agendas ranging from the Australian Refugee Crisis to the illicit diamond trade in Africa. Their comprehensive resolutions gained considerable recognition at this global platform and they garnered a majority vote for all the resolutions they had proposed. Held in the tropical Island of Singapore, the conference allowed our students to interact with individuals residing across the lengths and breadths of our continent, enabling them to learn about their distinctive art, music, and literature. Here is a note from some of the delegates:
“As we bid adieu to our anxious parents leaning across the railings of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport we embarked on a journey with our guardian angels, Ms Varghese and Mr Kevat who put to rest our beaming nervousness on the 5 hour flight to what is regarded the gateway of South East Asia, Singapore. Unaware of what the coming week would bring forth we hastily worked our way through our seemingly never-ending research material and resolutions. The warmth of the tour guide who escorted us to our home for the next 5 days, put to rest our unease. The amicable and radiant personality of whomever we interacted with and the dosas we ate at Singapore’s Little India made us feel just home. As we put away our laptops post transferring our creative solutions into worded documents we found ourselves at the much-loved Universal Studios Singapore. The bumpy rollercoaster rides were just a metaphor of what would be felt over the 4 most awaited days of our life. The frequent visits to 7/11 for our favourite milk, Milo! Prepared us well enough for the hectic and intense committee sessions in the Hwa Chong Institute”.
As the gates to this magnanimous institution opened we were left in awe of its grandeur. We were escorted to the bubbling committee venues by rather innocent students who asked about our wellbeing. The stage was set and it was time to deliver. Soon began the passionate lobbying sessions and the exchange of signatories as we debated solutions to the most pressing issues of the modern day wearing our ironed suits and sparkling shoes. The excitement of the 16 year’s old and the competitive atmosphere was a window to the real world. The hurried note passing, the intricate amendments, the ardent speeches and the inclusive resolutions become routine for the next three days. The extended walk from the committee venues with our now loosened ties at the end of a chaotic day involved exchanging phone numbers and email ID’s with our committee counterparts, waiting to reach our hotel bed and begin again with the frantic typing and resolution framing. The brief dinner every night at the adjacent McDonalds was followed by chitchat along the hotel corridors. Sharing the satisfaction of a long day’s work and success with recognizable faces gave closure to our wreaking nervousness. It was as if time flew when we found ourselves in the closing ceremony as the Secretary General declared the conference “Close”.
As a learning experience, THIMUN Singapore, a prestigious conference attended by all our delegates, was more than just an ‘experience’. The values of responsibility, independence, self-confidence shone in the paperwork, speeches and diplomacy of every single delegate that represented our school. It was also an invaluable bonding experience, for every single one of us.
Manav Mody, XC
Maia Bedi 10A