Sessions of the Model United Nations (MUN) are being held in several schools in Bhubaneswar for the past few years and I have had the good fortune of taking part in some of them.

They have given me rich insights into ways, in which this great global organisation has been resolving conflicts among nations and creating conditions, under which humanity can achieve peaceful growth and higher levels of cultural excellence.

As we all know, the endeavour to establish peace and harmony in a war-torn world had taken a concrete shape after the World War I, when the League of Nations was established. However, it proved ineffective as the World War II broke out soon afterwards and the need for non-violent resolution of conflict among the nations through negotiation and diplomacy was felt with even greater urgency.

The United Nations was the outcome of the earnest efforts made by statesmen from all over the world, and over the years, it has tirelessly striven to create a new world order free from poverty, aggression, and inequality. To quote Ban Ki-moon, the former Secretary General, UN, “By strengthening the three pillars of the United Nations — security, development, and human rights — we can build a more peaceful, more prosperous and more just world for our succeeding generations.”

The young, who have a stake in the future of the world, must learn how this world organisation works, so that they can begin thinking globally and overcome narrow prejudices which lead to conflict. MUN conferences are, therefore, organised in schools to give them a feel of the real world before getting into it. Here they will learn how to pacify egos, solve crises and form meaningful bonds with others. They will also acquire skills of time and situation management, because here you will meet people whom you may or may not like but with whom you have to work.

During the two or three-day event, they have to field difficult questions at news conferences relating to the hypocrisy of your country. You will be invited to address urgent issues confronting humanity today such as climate change, water crisis, human trafficking, child labour, population explosion, malnutrition and so on. It is perfectly possible that one day some of the young participants will get the opportunity to work for the UN or represent their country at this prestigious world forum.

MUN conferences will, therefore, train them for their future roles by endowing them with valuable networking and negotiating skills, for here they will get to meet young men and women from various countries and learn to respect and appreciate their cultures.

I have attended several such conferences — KIIT MUN being the first and recently KIITIS MUN 2017. From the very first day of it, I got to know that I have a lot to know and a learn and today also I feel the same, because I have learnt that learning never ends. It’s not just a matter of a few days of a conference, but it’s what you get to know and what you learn from it.

Being with around 300 plus delegates I have got to know that there’s at least something that each single person of the conference knows and I shall try to know it. I won’t say that I’m MUNing, but I’m learning. I have seen a small sapling of knowledge growing inside me into a small plant and slowly into a tree.

Being a delegate, I have witnessed that there are a lot of things in this world which are under discussion and being tried by the UN to be solved at the nearest, and we all shall contribute to it. Being an member of the International Press I have also learnt that it’s not too easy to handle such a large conference, from taking pictures, making notes, articles and publishing newsletters, it’s a really hard job and not everyone’s cup of tea. I would like to end up with the experience that we, all the delegates and IP members, have witnessed in the last KIITIS MUN 2017. It had to be one of the best experiences one could ever have. Those three days, August 11 to 13, were the best three days one could ever have. Starting from the conference to the socials and of course, the Kanan Gill show, everything was just amazing. The hospitality by the organising committee was beyond description. The executive board of the councils and IP provided the exact guidance required for a first timer. A fulfilled, once in a lifetime experience. So, I would like to say that keep growing, keep learning and keep MUNing.

(The writer is a student of Class XI , DPS Kalinga, Cuttack)