The Hague International Model United Nations 2006
This year's THIMUN (The Hague International Model United Nations) delegation was the youngest group we had ever taken to The Hague. Of the 28 students, five were seniors (displaying wonderful leadership), four were juniors, four were freshman, and 15 were tenth-graders. We expected students to learn the research and writing skills necessary to develop solutions and resolutions to solve the problems facing this world -- and they certainly did not let us down. Our thanks to the students who spent a great deal of time over the winter break researching, thinking, and writing -- and to the seniors who mentored them, because the chaperones did little, if any, of the preparation!
The surprise came when we arrived at the Congrescenter. Our youngest delegates -- usually a bit overwhelmed and shell-shocked at the pace of lobbying, process of merging and level of debate, if not the sheer size of the program (4,000 students from about 170 schools worldwide, only five or six of which are from the US) -- plunged right in. Many of them, before they left the US, had contacted students representing countries whose views would have agreed with those of our delegations, the Philippines and Peru, and they quickly became fully immersed in the lobbying process. Several were main submitters of a resolution which ended up being a compilation of the ideas of several countries; many served as co-submitters and found the courage to go to the microphone to address the issues. All found their voice to question content and support those resolutions in agreement with their country's perspective.
Special positions were held by seniors Afrooz Family and Aria Curtis. Aria applied for and received a seat on the Special Advisory for the Sudan. As she researched the political party she was to represent, she realized it was the current, corrupt, ruling party. As she said, her background in theater was very helpful because she was able to put herself into the role of a politician whose views were so opposite her own and portray him so convincingly. Afterwards, she couldn't believe she'd really said the things she'd said, and for a while, others in her advisory were truly upset with her for the views she was expressing.
Afrooz served as rapporteur of GA6. A new position created just this year, it was perfect for Afrooz after we saw how he "manipulated" (in all the good connotations of that word) the process last year. His job was to know all the issues confronting GA6, consult with delegates on the quality of their resolutions, and help the flow of the process within the committee. It was a perfect position for him!
We were so proud of all the students. They were a wonderful group with whom to travel. Their work ethic was unquestionably superb; their energy and excitement were contagious. The only shock of the whole time away was the fact that the shaky, tiny beds upon which we slept didn't collapse when about 15 of us piled boisterously onto one mattress.
Students attending were
Grade 12: Aria Curtis, Afrooz Family, Kate Mischaikow, Erica Umpierrez, Melanie Weniger
Grade 11: Christine Head, Hannah Rueckel, Julia Taylor, Maggie Thomas
Grade 10: Aida Curtis, Matt Dodson, Patrick Flaherty, Elliot Flautt, Gillian Furqueron, Claire Giblin, Manuel Grünenfelder, Ethan Lyle, Alex Mathieu, Christian Mustroph, Lauren Olens, Lucy Pettitt-Schieber, Benji Schuttler, Christina Theodore, Lizzie Warner
Grade 9: Amara Frumkin, Colin Hill, Meredith Lowe, Shiva Rouhani
Our thanks to the students, and the families who sent them with us. It was great!