Mumbai-based VIBGYOR high schools, part of the VIBGYOR Group of Schools having 33 schools in nine-major Indian cities commenced its 9th edition of the Model United Nations (MUN) 2019 on 27 June. MUN initiatives which simulate the proceedings held by the various committees of the New York based United Nations (UN) give participating student delegates a forum to gain experience, get acquainted and try to resolve the most glaring global issues while practicing the United Nations’ core values of debate and discussions. Students hone their skills in diplomacy, negotiation, critical thinking, compromise, public speaking, writing, research and learn more about the United Nations’ proceedings.
The three-day VIBGYORMUN event had 500 student delegates (14-18 age groups) from 31 schools across India participating in it. During the three-day event, students discussed various issues like improving global access to education, nuclear policy in the 21st century, curbing state sponsorship of terrorism, developing sustainable cities to deal with urbanization and exploring ways to tackle the growing agrarian distress in rural India, etc.
Shim Mathew, Director-academic operations, initiatives and international partnerships who has been instrumental in initiating VIBGYORMUN for the school said, “From the first VIBGYORMUN held in 2011 with 165 student delegates, it has grown strength to strength. With a different social theme each year our endeavour is to educate participants about important current affairs and global issues surrounding them. With our dynamic and highly experienced faculty, we hope to give all our delegates the best possible VIBGYORMUN experience. Moreover, VIBGYORMUN has served as a platform for them to meet, debate, deliberate, consult and discuss issues pertaining to international relations in a diplomatic way.”
The event was flagged off by Erik Solheim, the sixth UN environment executive director and under-secretary-general of the United Nations and Aaditya Thackeray, leader of Shiv Sena, which is one half of the governing Bhartiya Janta Party-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra. Afroz Shah, who has spearheaded Mumbai’s beach clean-up drive and is the only Indian to be given the ‘UN Champion of the Earth’ title, was the guest of honour. All three speakers spoke about the urgent need to garner greater public participation to resolve the growing environmental hazards arising due to the use of plastic.
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