Model United Nations

The California YMCA Youth & Government Model United Nations program is a simulation of the “real-life” United Nations Assembly for middle school students.  Participants in Model United Nations (MUN) will take part in some of the activities that the real U.N. participates in.  Delegates will research, debate and establish policies, treaties and resolutions focusing on international issues, including disputes between countries, peace-keeping responsibilities, border crisis, stabilizing financial markets and dealing with hunger, disease and poverty.

Delegations are assigned one or more countries (depending on the number of delegates) that they will represent, and the delegates will research the countries and come together at the MUN conferences as delegates from those countries. The first conference is at Camp Roberts in Paso Robles and the climax of the program ends at the final conference in Burbank, CA. Delegates can be a part of one of several organizations that make up the U.N., including the General Assembly (GA), Security Council, International Court of Justice, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Secretariat (for interns only), and an international press delegation. The roles in these different “organs” of MUN are described in more detail later. Delegates also participate in caucuses which represent different areas of the world: The African States, Asian States, Latin American and Caribbean States, and the Western European and Other States.

Delegates will write, debate and vote on resolutions in the GA, and also participate in one of the organs, either hearing memorials (court cases), dealing with issues of human rights, writing newspaper articles, or settling border or territorial disputes. Delegates will be faced with some “crisis” issues that they will be asked to resolve as well.

The Model United Nations program is offered for all that are in grades 6, 7 or 8. The year does not kick off until late January but feel free to contact Jeff Atwood, Program Director, if you have any questions.

BENEFITS TO MODEL UNITED NATIONS:

• MEET 500 NEW STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE STATE!
• Learn about world issues in a fun way
• Prepare for the high school Youth & Government program
• 2 weekend trips to Camp Roberts Military base and Burbank
• Learn to debate and parliamentary procedure