ASM’s middle school students are excited for an amazing experience this academic year, as they prepare to participate in the Montessori Model United Nations (MMUN) conference in March 2024. This four-day, international conference, held in New York City, offers our students an opportunity for collaboration and dialogue with their peers from all over the globe, including nations such as China, Spain, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico, among others. Established in 2006, with just 200 attendees, MMUN has grown and now hosts thousands of young adults from around the world each year to participate in multiple conferences.
From the start of this school year, our students have been researching the functions of the United Nations, understanding its impact and significance from a broad, global perspective. In addition, they have been exploring and researching many international concerns, gaining insights into global issues from the perspective of different countries. This program empowers our middle school students to take on the roles of delegates from countries around the world and challenges them to engage in problem-solving on global issues through the unique perspective of their adopted countries. It’s an experience of collaboration and discovery, emphasizing that, through the collective efforts of many people, solutions are more attainable.
This year, our students will take on the role of delegates from Ghana and Sri Lanka, researching the countries’ political, religious, and cultural landscape. They will collaborate with student delegates from other nations to address some of the global challenges we face today and draft resolutions aimed at solving these challenges. The students’ research has been focused on global topics, including:
- Human rights and environmental protection
- The rights of indigenous populations
- Zone of peace, trust, and cooperation in Central Asia
- The situation in Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories
- Guidance on the use of agricultural plastics
- Disaster risk reduction
- Empowering youth in inclusive and sustainable food systems
The culmination of this conference is a visit to the renowned General Assembly Hall at the United Nations, where the students will have the opportunity to present and vote on their resolutions.
Montessori Model United Nations is more than a conference – it is a transformative experience that brings students’ awareness of current world affairs to the forefront and helps students realize the significance of evaluating different viewpoints to address and resolve global challenges. By participating in MMUN, it is our goal to inspire our students to bring about change that encourages peace and progressive growth for people worldwide.
