My Journey Through MUNs
Editor’s Note on MUNs:
Model United Nations (MUN) is an event that simulates proceedings at the United Nations (UN). This gives the participating students an opportunity to gain vital life skills. They also gain an appreciation of the diverse perspectives of various countries on issues of global importance. In this article, Devishi Aggarwal, takes us through her journey of participating in MUNs and her progressive learning throughout this journey.
A Journey Through MUNs
My experience with the Model United Nations (MUNs) began for me with the onset of August 2017. At the start of it, I had no clue about how enthralling this journey with MUNs would be. The end was a highly aspired one as it opened new horizons for me. It gave me wonderful exposure to explore new sides of my personality and capability. I gained a lot from the feedback and advice received. I also gained great confidence and a strong belief that I was capable of doing wonders in life.
Representing Indonesia in the World Health Organization
My journey commenced when I had been made a Delegate of the Republic of Indonesia in the World Health Organization (WHO). Reluctant to participate in this committee at first, I realized what a formidable opportunity it was for me later on.
My research covered a multitude of topics such as epidemics, maternal and neonatal mortality rates, hospital status, and mental health. Armed with this repertoire I set out for the Presidium Model United Nations 2017. An added joy was that two of my close friends were part of the conference staff in my committee.
The setting of the committee hall was incredibly mesmerizing, for it gave me a feel of the real United Nations. The proceedings of the conference began with the roll calls. Thereafter the committee moved on to the General Speakers List.
The pieces of information delivered by the other delegates were highly commendable. One of my major shortcomings turned out to be that I wasn’t really prepared about certain agendas. Due to this, I wasn’t able to deliver many speeches on the first day of the conference. In such a scenario, I chose to listen to the narratives of my fellow delegates. This proved to be a good decision, for listening to them was quite informative and helped enhance my knowledge. It made me realize that it is beneficial and at times necessary to lend one’s ears to others. Listening to others ensures that one doesn’t go empty handed but bags an appreciable amount of learning.
Related Read : Overcoming Mental Health Issues
The Discussions
I got the chance to speak in a few Moderated Caucuses that dealt with various issues. (Moderated Caucus is an informal debate session meant to discuss specific sub-issues). I wasn’t prepared for some of them. It was unimaginable for me. I got to expand my database by getting to know about the loopholes in my preparation. I lacked knowledge about the Millennium Development Goals, refugee crisis and health. While I could speak fairly about the impact of education and terrorism on health.
In the Unmoderated Caucuses, (When formal debates are suspended, the delegates can lobby to find allies or work on their draft resolutions.) we presented our opinions in front of the other delegates. We also got to propose new policies. They were a test of our debating skills. The person who managed to dominate in them benefited to a great extent. They were instrumental in teaching us how one should indulge in diplomatic conversations and lobby our objectives with other delegates.
Another important aspect of the conference was chit passing. It is advisable to write as many substantive chits as possible to the Executive Board (the council of judges). This enables to convey various portions of one’s research to them. A key necessity is incorporating both research and analysis into the chits in equivalent amounts. Substantive chits are given the same weight as speeches in several MUN conferences. It plays a major role in deciding the result in a committee as big as the United Nations General Assembly.
I must admit that I lacked in that particular area. I was afraid of sending any inaccurate or invalid piece of information to the Executive Board. That is certainly not advisable because that reduces one’s chances to earn marks.
The Documentation Process
By the end of the second day of the conference, we were through with all the committee discussions. This was followed by planning the documentation process that was to be held the following day.
Subsequently on the final day, the committee passed a recommendation report covering major issues. They were deliberated upon during the course of the session. A major challenge faced by the delegates representing countries similar to mine was the United States’ dominance during the drafting process. Our suggestions and ideas weren’t paid much heed to. The best thing to do in such a situation is simply to hold one’s ground. One should try one’s level best to prove the point. If nothing works, then the next best thing to do is simply failing the report citing a valid reason. A single vote against the committee report fails it. This wasn’t done by me in this case, owing to the lack of experience.
Soon after, the conference was adjourned. The awards for the Best Position Paper were presented in the committee. I was one of the two awardees. (A ‘Position Paper’ is a document stating a country’s foreign policy and its stance on the agenda.)
The Closing Ceremony
The closing ceremony for the Presidium Model United Nations 2017 was conducted at the Manekshaw auditorium in New Delhi. The school students showcased their dance and music performances. Thereafter awards for all the committees were announced one by one. I didn’t get any award. The final feedback I received from the Executive Board though was a great reward for me. I learnt that there was no room for under-confidence in MUNs. Nervousness always undermines the impression of a delegate. It is not advisable to refrain from writing chits at all. Even if the content presented in them isn’t up to the mark, they won’t be negatively marked. It is absolutely necessary to incorporate research and analysis in the chits and speeches. The latter was where I lacked.
I also learnt what to do when one isn’t prepared to speak about a particular motion. Instead of staying quiet, one should focus on the narratives of the other delegates. Analyse their speeches so as to come up with one’s own points. Hence, I formed a new strategy of conduct for my upcoming MUNs. That moment came in August 2018 when I was made the Delegate of Malawi in the United Nations Women committee.
Delegate of Malawi at the United Nations Women Committee
This time I found myself in a better position as compared to my first ever MUN. I didn’t keep myself from writing chits out of the fear of presenting invalid content. I tried adding more of analysis to my chits as well. My efforts paid off and I won the Best Position Paper award for a second time. The best style of writing a position paper is keeping it concise and ensuring that it doesn’t exceed two pages. Writing proper headings and sub-headings and using legitimate sources of information is the key to writing a winning position paper.
I didn’t win any award yet again but the feedback I received steered me on the right path. I learnt that my definition of analysis was somewhat faulty and also got to know what makes a good analysis.
Anatomy of Good Analysis
A good analysis comprises of
- An introduction to a particular problem
- The stakeholders who are affected in that particular situation
- Possible solutions to that problem
- Constraints in the solutions
- Final inferences
- Key insights, quoting examples
I learned that one’s research shouldn’t be limited to their country. It should cover the position of other countries also. One should represent their country in the best possible manner no matter how developed or under-developed it might be.
I also learnt how one could make the best use of Unmoderated Caucuses to strengthen their position in the committee. The best approach is to point out facts that one wants to discuss and state why they are worth discussing. If some other delegate becomes more dominant, then one should align one’s allies and persuade them to discuss one’s policies through alternate channels.
Delegate of Moldova at UNGA – DISEC
I followed all these advice in my third MUN that happened exactly a year later. I was the Delegate of Moldova in the United Nations General Assembly-Disarmament and International Security Committee at the Delhi Model United Nations Conference 2019.
This time I presented around twenty-two substantive chits in total. I presented facts covering the findings of the Global Cyber-security Index and the Cyber Profiles of various other countries. It was enough for me to know that Moldova is a European nation to assume that my country was wealthy and influential. Since I hadn’t done any country research prior to the conference, I had no clue about the impoverishment and backwardness of my country. That’s not something I recommend doing. This ignorance helped me in portraying my country’s position in the best possible manner and in stating that other countries were far behind.
My participation in the Unmoderated Caucuses was greater than the previous times, even though the Delegate of Russia had managed to turn the tide in his favour. There was still a loophole left in my knowledge. It was my lack of participation in the documentation process. But I believe, all the skills come with more and more experience.
I certainly found myself in a much better position than before. This time I won the-Second-High Commendation Award. It is the third highest honour in the United Nations General Assembly in the MUNs. It is a committee having more than a hundred and eighty delegates.
My journey through the MUNs – Model United Nations was certainly a life-time of unforgettable experiences. It brought me bountiful learning and gave me an entirely new exposure.
Related Read: How to Prepare for MUNs
About The Author
Devishi Aggarwal is an Indian teenager who enjoys writing and blogging. She is passionate about history and literature. In her free time she may be found reading and web-surfing.
Devishi loves debating and public speaking too. She is enthusiastic about participating in both academic and co-curricular inter-school events, particularly in Model United Nations.
What an interesting article and perfectly written! Very impressed!
Grateful for your feedback!
Very nice Devishi, keep up the good work.
Thanks a lot ma’am for this encouragement and thank you for being my mentor.
Very nice article. Keep it up.
Thank you ever so much!
Very nice devishi. Keep it up .. we r proud of u.
Many thanks.
Proud of you Devishi Wish you new heights everyday
Thank you so much ma’am for these warm wishes!
Great Devishi, keep it up.
Thank you so much.
Vishi really you wrote very well. Keep writing and share your thoughts with others so person may also learn from your experiences.
Heartiest thanks mami! This encouragement keeps me going!
Great Devishi, keep it up.
Thank you so much nanu! This means a lot to me.
Well done Devishi your article is very informative and inspirational for all young writers keep it up and stay blessed
Many thanks for the appreciation!
Congratulations!! Devishi Di. You are a very good writer. Your writing is too impressive and informative. Best of luck for your future!!Stay Blessed with lots of interesting articles..
Grateful for your feedback!
Congratulations Devishi…
Very interesting and informative article…
Keep it up!
Gud luck!
Thank you so much for the praise.
Hi Devishi,
Great and impressive blog. You expressed it very nicely! Keep it up!
Heartiest thank you mami for the compliments.
Well done devishi.So proud of you.
Heartiest thanks ma’am!
Very nice yaar good article
Thanks a lot!
Excellent article Devishi! You should be very proud of yourself with what you’ve written here and I look forward to seeing more of your works in the future.
Thank you so much Alex, my friend. These wishes are quite precious to me.
Excellent article Devishi…!!!
You are an inspiration for everyone.
It’s very impressive and informative
Keep it up….stay blessed..!!!
Heartiest thanks for the praise! It means a lot to me.
Hi Devishi,
You have written very nice article, your vocabulary is very good, l must say.
You are an inspiration to young writers. Very well done. Keep going !
Heartiest thanks for wishing well and for this encouragement.
Congratulations Devishi. You are a very good writing.
Best of luck for your future!
Many thanks for this encouragement and these well wishes.
Great piece of writing.
Keep it up!
Do shine like a star, smell like a flower and spread your light and fragrance throughout the world.
Keep going!
Thank you so much.
Very well written Devishi.
May your words be plenty, your typos be few, your ideas be accepted and manuscript too.
Good luck!
Keep going!
Many thanks mamu for the warm wishes!
Hi Devishi,
Article written by you is simply mesmerizing. You have nicely explained your journey with the great use of subtle vocabulary.
Your readers will be eagerly waiting for your next post. So keep going….
Keep writing…..
All the best !
Thank you so much masi for these warm wishes, they keep me going!
Congratulations Devishi !
Great work. Keep it up.
Thanks a lot for the motivation!
Great work Devishi !
The blog is full of ebullient experiences and amazing wedges of your journey. May God bless you dear.
Many thanks my friend, it means a lot to me! The time three of us had during PMUN 2017 was simply marvelous and is ever memorable!
Great Devishi ! Commendable !
Very insightful and very well enunciated. I am sure these learning’s would prove to be an asset for your academic and professional journey ahead. Keep it up and all the very best !
Thanks a lot mamu for wishing so well.
Great work Devishi ! The article is very enlightening with great tips
Thank you so much Anmol, please keep visiting for more.
Everything is written very beautifully and by heart . God bless you . I m eagerly waiting for your next post… Plz don’t stop and keep carry on… This is really an inspiration for all the upcoming kudos…..
I m really a big FAN of yours as always.
I LOVE YOU SOOOO MUCH
Thanks mami for this support. It is a fuel for me.
Great Devishi, Keep it up…
Highly grateful to you mamu. Please keep visiting.
Hip hip hurray..you are a rockstar didi .
Heartiest thanks!
Very impressive and beautiful article. Keep it up
Congratulations Devishi
Loved the article and experiences through MUN.
God bless you 🙂
Thanks so much for this praise.
Such an amazing and captivating journey!As someone who has already participated in M.U.N I have to say that this is extremely helpful for future MUN participants while at the same time an engaging and accurate account of the experiences we have in the MUN.
Thanks a lot. This support and encouragement simply boosts my morale and motivates me to keep going.
The blog is written so beautifully!
Heartiest thanks Prisha.
Superb
Thank you so much, delighted to read that!
This is great! It summarises your journey of the MUNs so well. Would love to read more articles written by you.
Thank you so much Ishita. It was great being with you in PMUN 2017.
Felt great reading about your journey through MUN, I loved the way you have expressed your journey and experience through this article. Keep writing more and sharing your experiences, I will be eagerly looking forward to your next blog. Keep it up Devashi.
Thank you ever so much aunty for this appreciation. It means a lot to me.
What an amazing journey. Very captivating. Felt like I was part of the journey. Very nicely presented. Looking forward for more articles and blogs. Keep up the good work.
Good luck & Good bless!
Heartiest thanks for this praise. Please keep visiting.
It was a great experience reading this article. Devishi, I will wait for your next article. Keep up the good work. Stay elated.
Heartiest thanks for this encouragement!
Very nice and motivated article Devishi every year doing self assessment of your Flaws learning from past experience and coming up with more stronger approach very motivational keep it up wishing you all the very best for your new achievements
Thanks a lot for this support and motivation, please keep visiting.
Nice write up. Legitimate use of subtle vocabulary and yet expressive. Keep it up!
Many thanks for this appreciation.
The journey of corresponding MUN,s is beautifully explained in crafted words. Devishi explained her journey representing various countries to come out with more meaningful qualities of that country.
Congratulations and keep on writing .
Best wishes,
Highly pleased to read this tauji,thank you so much.
Found your post interesting to read. The article is really very interesting and effective. Keep on writing, waiting eagerly for your next post.
Good job! Keep it up!
Good luck!
Thanks a bunch mom. This encouragement works like a booster for me.
This is a very interesting read Devishi! I thoroughly enjoyed going through your MUN journey! Wish you all the best for your forthcoming endeavours.. so proud of you!
Heartiest thanks bua. That’s so pleasing to hear.
Great going Devishi!
Im so proud of you..
You’ve beautifully penned your journey..
I still remember the day you’d come to me inquiring about the MUNs..
Im so thrilled that you have enjoyed debating so much..
Loads of good wishes to you
Thanks a lot ma’am. This support keeps me going and encourages me to expand myself.
Wow! What an interesting article . Keep up the good work!Best of luck for your future.
Many thanks!
Very nice devishi. U r n inspiration to all the kids . So keep going n keep it up
Thanks a lot mami.
Great piece of information about MUN’s. Nicely written .
Very interesting and knowledgeable article. Enjoyed reading it.
Keep it up!
Thank you so much.
Impressive at your age. Keep blogging…
Grateful to you tauji for this appreciation.
Great work and effort Devishi .keep it up always. Like father like daughter.
Thanks a lot aunty for this appreciation.
Nice write up. Great work
Many thanks Scott.
A must read article for all the participants of MUN. The writer Devshi has given every minute and interesting description of her experiences, learning, flaws and achievements. Wishing her all the very best for her next article and achievements.
Thanks for this encouragement. It means a lot to me.
Congratulations Devishi. Nice journey of experiences through M. N. U. Keep it up always.
Thanks dadi
Great tips! Helpful for all on their own MUN Journeys
Thank you so much for your appreciation!
Nice post. You write a informational article. keep it up. We all proud of you and you are the inspiration for yours brothers and sisters. God bless you with all your desires.
Many thanks for the compliments.
Thanks a lot masi for the warm wishes.
Very nice article Devishi with good insights about your experiences through the MUNs. Keep sharing your experiences, its a delight.
Thank you so much, this motivation means a lot.