How to Start a Model United Nations Team
National United Nations (U.N.) is an organization that teaches students about the diplomatic process, as they act as ambassadors in competitive conferences. Model U.N. teaches students invaluable skills such as public speaking, compromise and negotiation. Students also learn about international politics and the development of international policy. Many Model U.N. participants go on to hold significant government and legal positions. Read on to learn more.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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1
Ask school authorities for permission to start a Model United Nations team. School administrators will decide whether to establish a club or to offer Model U.N. as a formal course. Which your school starts depends on school resources, such as teachers who have Model United Nations experience and have an interest in starting a program.
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2
Find a meeting place and publicize the first meeting. Make it clear to other students, in simple terms, the purpose and vision of a Model United Nations team. Provide specific information to attract students interested in public speaking, debate, government, international relations and problem solving.
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3
Get permission to place fliers or posters around school to raise interest among students. You should also ask teachers to give you a few minutes to speak to classes about Model United Nations, as most students probably aren't familiar with the program. In addition, speak to similar school organizations like the debate club and student government to recruit members.
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4
Choose which conferences to attend. For a new team, it's best to attend small regional conferences where you can hone your skills and learn crucial tactics. As your team's skill-level progresses, branch out to larger, more competitive conferences. Travel costs and conference registration costs are important factors to consider when planning event participation.
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Decide which countries your team would like to represent. Most conferences ask teams to submit country preferences and then make assignments accordingly. There are almost 200 countries to choose from, but most teams choose one of about 20 countries, the assignment of which is highly competitive. Remember that the purpose of Model United Nations is to learn about diplomacy, develop public speaking and negotiating skills and to become very knowledgeable about one country.
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Meet regularly and plan sessions carefully. The faculty advisor in concert with student leaders must set an agenda for each class or club meeting. It's crucial to diligently practice speech writing, public speaking, resolution writing and caucusing before attending a conference. You'll also need to know rules of procedure before entering a competition.
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