The
Dolphin
Wave
The Dolphin Wave
THIMUN 2020
The Hague International Model United Nations
A comment from Mr. Gildart. (MUN club director and supervisor)
In a time when world leaders struggle to solve complex problems we often wonder what the future will hold for our planet. When our faculty observe our students think about these issues it is heartening to know the future can hold optimism.
From November 16-20 ten Model United Nations Club students participated in THIMUN - The Hague International Model United Nations conference. Usually held in Singapore each year, this year our students lobbied and debated online. An important element of MUN is that each delegation (school) represents a country different from the one in which they live. This year NIS debated a range of issues - from oceans to outer space regulation, to territorial disputes and the spread of disinformation - in various committees from the perspective of Saudi Arabia. Each student delegate researched a specific issue and debated that from the position of Saudi Arabia, with the purpose of creating meaningful and realistic UN resolutions.
Learning to represent other perspectives helps us to be more empathetic and mindful of how others think and feel. (at the individual and national level) The skills and dispositions practiced - such as research, analysis, collaboration, and public speaking - are "real world" competencies and will serve our students in any future context.
At the conference our student delegates were extremely active, often taking on leadership roles in their committees. Club supervisors saw our delegates move from feelings of nervousness to that of empowerment. Indeed, our delegates were highly engaged throughout the week as they worked to tackle real-life global issues to create and debate realistic solutions to those issues with their peers from across the Asian region. NIS is very proud of the enthusiasm and effort our student delegates put into their preparation, and club members and supervisors look forward to future conferences, both in-person and online.
Andrea M.
THIMUN 2020 was definitely a challenge for everyone. This was the first online conference any of us had done, but we were able to work it out and help each other out to reach our goals. I felt really inspired by everybody's dedication and the perseverance and am very excited for the future of the MUN club as a whole.
Mina N.
The 2020THIMUN Online Conference was the first MUN conference I had attended. This year, our school represented Saudi Arabia and I was in the environmental committee debating on "Methods to protect oceans from overexploitation". At first, I was not sure if an online MUN would give me an experience worth spending many hours on. However, my doubt quickly faded away after seeing how organized and well planned each conference was. Despite the fact that it was online, I was amazed by how engaged, active, and determined delegates from other schools were. I was quickly drawn into the serious but exciting atmosphere of a MUN conference. In the first few days, I was not able to speak up as much as I wanted to and felt very inexperienced. In the last few days though, I was able to gain my confidence and become one of the delegates contributing, talking, debating, and sharing idea's the most. Every procedure during the event, from lobbying and creating draft resolutions to debating and voting was such a valuable experience. During the whole conference, my mind was processing information at full speed in order to answer questions and make for/against speeches on the spot from the perspective of the country I represented. Sometimes, it was hard to think from the perspective of Saudi Arabia, especially when the statements I made were against my personal opinions. Even so, this allowed me to realize the difficulty of separating personal values from the values of a country as a whole. By attending this conference, I can now confidently say that MUN is a club I highly recommend because there are many skills that can be gained from attending a MUN conference just like I did.
Riho I.
THIMUN 2020 being my first ever conference (and online!), I was honestly prepared for a rough experience. For the first couple of days, I was nervous and intimidated by other delegates who seemed more experienced, so much so that I could not actively participate. However, when it was time to lobby for my topic, I was able to lead the discussion and work together with other delegates collaboratively. On the final day, I was no longer passively listening but was making speeches and POIs with confidence. Even though I missed out on the Singapore experience, online THIMUN was an extremely engaging and intriguing experience. 10/10 would recommend!
Kohei A.
What I enjoyed most: There is a step during the MUN parliamentary procedure called "lobbying", in which delegates informally discuss the issue at hand to develop a draft resolution. As I was lobbying with around 20 other delegates, I was fascinated by the way that their numerous opinions, perspectives, and personalities gradually merged together into a comprehensive resolution. It was a thrilling experience to step forwards as a representative of Saudi Arabia and participate in the heated arguments (and hilarious conversations) in the group's Zoom meetings and WhatsApp chat.
What I found challenging: I was initially overwhelmed by how fast-paced the debates were — delegates are given minimal time to think of questions to ask the speaker, and even less time to think of answers to the questions directed to them. Although preliminary research and preparation are helpful, I realized that the most quick-witted, adaptable delegates thrive during the debating stages of the conference, which was challenging for me as a first-time delegate.
What I learned: Although the conference lasted for only four days, I can confidently say that the experience helped me to grow immensely, and I think fellow NIS delegates would all agree. I was pushed far outside my usual comfort zone and was quite intimidated at first; however, I was able to take advantage of the opportunity and challenge myself to keep up with the other, more experienced delegates. I really regret waiting until my senior year to participate in a large-scale MUN conference (especially because of how busy we are around this time), so I hope everyone in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade goes to as many conferences as possible, while they still can!!
