Model UN: A Season of Hard Work and Grit

By Saoirse M. (’28)

The QMS Model United Nations (MUN) Team, fondly referred to as the MUNsters, have been raising funds for their upcoming trips to Vancouver and New York. Their recent bottle drive proved to be a success, giving funding towards these exciting excursions.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, Model United Nations is not just any ordinary extracurricular activity – it is a thrilling fictional diplomatic sport that engages students from across the globe. It offers an exceptional platform for young minds to hone their skills in representation, research, and the art of making a difference on a multitude of global issues. At its core, MUN revolves around discussions and resolutions, allowing participants to immerse themselves in the complex world of international problem-solving. Since the recent absence of the wonderful Ms. Chapman, we spoke with Mr. Pienaar, one of the new supervising teachers who has become an instrumental figure in the journey of these ambitious MUNsters.

“VMUN offers a way for newcomers to ‘level up’ their MUN game and for seasoned vets to refine their skills,” said Mr. Pienaar. “Now that some students have attended their first conference (Global Goals at Shawnigan Lake School), they are looking for an opportunity to dig deeper and explore all the benefits that come from participating in Model United Nations.”

“The conference takes place over three days and will really challenge the students’ stamina and quick thinking,” continued Mr. Pienaar, “Regardless of performance at the event, students will come away with a greater appreciation for collaboration, problem solving, and nuanced discourse.” Together with Mr. Pienaar, new Grade 8 humanities teacher Mrs. Faber said, ” They had been prepping, debating and fundraising for a long time for this much anticipated event. The students organized a bottle drive on Friday, January 12, and had a good turnout of donations, raising a total of $175.”

“While this may seem like just a drop in the bucket, the funds helped out with some of the trip-related expenses,” Mrs. Faber said with a smile. We have many graduating students in MUN, but to speak on their experiences is Kieran D. (‘24) and Maia C. (‘24). Kieran has had many wonderful experiences in MUN starting in Grade 7. One impactful experience in Model UN was the trip to the Secondary School’s United Nations Symposium in Montreal.

For Kieran, it highlighted the commonalities between different committees and emphasized the importance of public speaking, quick thinking, and negotiation in achieving success in diplomacy. During last year’s iteration of VMUN he faced conflicts by considering compromises that aligned with his delegation’s values. The key to his success of winning best delegate came from allocating the resources to a delegation in need.

Maia has had many successes in Model United Nations, but a memorable experience was Secondary Schools United Nations Symposium in Montreal. Representing the International Press Corps, she witnessed debates on a wide range of topics, displaying the versatility of Model UN in addressing global issues.

A difficult challenge she had faced was representing the Conservative House Party Leader in the House of Commons at Vancouver MUN, finding common ground with other parties was crucial to navigate conflicts and create effective solutions. Collaboration proved essential amid debate and competition.

As the Model United Nations Team continues to garner support through their recent fundraising efforts, they wholeheartedly express their gratitude to the community for their generosity. The funds raised through the bottle drive will undoubtedly contribute to the success of their upcoming trips, enabling the MUNsters to explore new horizons, gain invaluable experiences, and be an active part of global problem-solving. The MUNsters, fueled by their passion and determination, are poised to make their mark on the Model United Nations stage.

With the support of dedicated teachers such as Mr. Pienaar and Mrs. Faber, their journey promises to be nothing short of exceptional.