MUN@Neev: WIMUN Diaries - Day 2

Sunday – 30 April 2017

The morning started with a training by Mr Erik Leiden, in which he gave us an introduction to the UN and its procedures. He discussed the skills and the knowledge we needed to make the most of the committee sessions. 

Soon after, in the Opening Plenary, we were briefed about what we would be doing in the MUN. We then dispersed to our respective committees (General Assemblies and Security Councils) for the delegates' opening speeches. 

The topic, that all the committees were working on this year, was the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. There are 17 SDGs -- ICT, Youth Development, Gender Equality among others.

What we liked best was Mr Erik’s outstanding presentation. It was filled with activities and taught us all we needed to participate in our very first MUN. 

- Ved and Aaryan

Breakfast before work

Ready to take on important issues

Sustainable Development Goals [Photo: srasiaconference2015.wordpress.com, September 2015]

Cultural and Karaoke Night

[Photos: MUN@Neev]

MUN@Neev: WIMUN Diaries - Day 1

Saturday – 29 April 2017

We embarked on our journey our spirits soaring. The perfect start to our trip was stopping at the Delhi Haat, where we browsed the stalls -- clothes, jewellery, food and so much more. We discovered the unique diversity of India. 

At the conference venue, our spirits only lifted higher as the opening ceremony was interesting and thought-provoking. The training session, the first of many to come, was very informative and taught us about the difference between the UN and MUN.

From the Delhi Haat to the lectures of inspiring speakers, the day was an incredible start to the MUN experience.

- Navya Sahay

MUN@Neev - Campaigning to be President of the General Assembly

Miss Anushree Arora from Grade 8 has been shortlisted for the post of the President of the General Assembly, WIMUN. This is her campaign video.

[MUN@Neev team]

MUN@Neev - Webinar (2nd April 2017)

On 2nd April, the students of Grade 7 and FB experienced their very first WIMUN webinar with more than 100 students from around India! The webinar was held by the organizers of the WIMUN India 2017, Finn Carlson and Chris Siakkas. On behalf of all the students who attended the webinar from our school, I can say that the webinar was a wonderful and educational experience.

We got to learn so much from Finn about the procedures of the conference and how each stage will take place. In the end, we were also allowed to have a live question and answer session in which we were able to clear our several doubts about WIMUN India 2017.

We also learnt about the meanings and importance of the different organs of the UN. The major advantage of the webinar, was that we had a dedicated section in the last 15 minutes, to ask questions and get them answered for each of the different things that we learnt from the webinar.

Mehr Sohal
Abinav Venkatagiri

MUN@Neev - Discussion with Miss Katherine Bonner

Over two days, we had the privilege of speaking to Miss Katherine Bonner via Skye. Miss Bonner is the Under-Secretary General of WIMUN. She had started participating in MUN when she was in 9th Grade, around the same age as us.

It was great to know that the WIMUN is an excellent platform as we take our first steps in MUN.

During the Skype call, she explained what happens in the sessions and what is expected of delegates. She briefly outlined the background of WIMUN and the procedures it follows. The session begins with the plenary, during which all committees meet and discuss the agenda. The main agenda for this year’s WIMUN is the 2030 sustainable development goals set by the UN. After the plenary, we meet as committees and have a Formal Debate. In this, the delegates are required to give a speech of 2-4 minutes on the topic. Miss Bonner also gave us the basic structure of the speech and the kind of language to be used while addressing the rest of the delegates. Following this discussion, we will have a time during which we can move around and talk to other delegates informally. We also found out that we would be part of blocs (groups of countries with similar interests), and would have to make a resolution document for each bloc, and then combine them.

We learnt that we should put in a lot more preparation, effort and research to be ready for the WIMUN conference. Our biggest learning was the consensus model – that it is not about getting our solution imposed, but creating a solution that each country would be more or less happy with – it is about compromise.

“If something is not agreed on, then find a way for everyone to agree.”

                                                                     

New Beginnings

From 29th April to 3rd May, the students of Grade 7 and Foundation Batch will participate, for the first time as a school, in the WFUNA International Model United Nations (WIMUN) in Agra. This event is organized by the World Federation of United Nations Associations. The students of MUN@Neev have started preparing for this conference.

23rd February 2017  - The Preparations Begin

In our first MUN meeting, we worked on developing our understanding of the procedures of the MUN, using a new strategy introduced by our teachers. We were assigned groups and each group had a summarizer, a definer, an interpreter and an evaluator, working on different aspects of the topic. We used our collaboration and research skills.  We will present this to the rest of the class next week. This activity really energised us.

        

Students working in their groups.

2nd March 2017 - The Presentations

Today, each group presented their research on MUN procedures. Was our research good? Did we address the topic in detail? Did we work well together as group? Did we speak clearly, articulating well? These were some of the things we discussed. We look forward to working on the feedback we received.

Students presenting their work.

[Photos: MUN@Neev]

Grade 4 - Lemonade Stand set up by our young Entrepreneurs!

Date:  8th February, 2017,  Wednesday

Grade: 4

A day was filled with anxiety and excitement for our children was not just a learning experience but a true challenge which gave them lifelong profound learning. The day started off with the class taking an oath that whatever happens they will be principled when they conduct the sales. As a team, they set up their stalls, mixed the lemonade and got ready with exuberance. The market opened and our budding entrepreneurs did make us feel proud when they put together their learning of the past 6 weeks together to meet the demands of the market. They not only used the learning from the unit ‘How we organize ourselves’ but also went back to what they learnt in their advertising unit to market their business and persuade customers to buy their product.

Now it is time to reflect on the how they did in terms of profit. The groups were anxious to know what their revenue was and if they made a profit or not. They used costing sheets to calculate the revenue and come up with an overall understanding of the unit. It was interesting to see their reflections that showed how students exhibited their learner profiles, skills and attitudes during the whole process.