Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu:

Can anyone imagine !4-year-old delegates representing various countries in the Security Council of the United Nations Organisation? Or picture them passing their resolutions about Iraq, nuclear energy and other grave issues of global import? Well, this is exactly what happened at Model United Nations, a mock session on various committees of the UN, held at Rato Bangla School on 29 March. The two-day long workshop, organised by Sangeeta Verma, aims to ensure that each and every student gets a deep understanding of modern history, current affairs, civics and a grasp of international relations as well as encourage potential solutions that young minds can suggest. The four committees enacted were Security Council, Environment and Technology Committee, Political and Security Committee and Socio-Humanitarian Committee. There were 20 countries that the students chose. These included USA, UK, Algeria, China, India and Pakistan, too. Each

country had 5-6 delegates. The programme comprised debates, agendas and discussions where many innovative and new ideas were expressed. The debates were chaired and judged by prominent personalities and ex-students. Sangeeta Matta Verma, coordinator of MUN, said: “The best part about getting children involved in such an event is the fact that we get an opportunity to understand things from a young person’s perspective and idealism. In the actual functioning of the UN, there are many resolutions that don’t reach any consensus. But here, you will find that the kids are actually more diplomatic and there is hardly any cynicism in their approach towards any other country’s problems or people,” she added. The children debated even on whether the Security Council needs restructuring, with very interesting arguments. Verma has attended and coordinated such MUN’s in many other countries and was overwhelmed by the active participation by Rato Bangla students.