Fifty students from the “Andrea Maffei” high school in Riva del Garda, in March this year, undertook an overseas trip to take part in NHSMUN (National High School Model United Nations), an educational project proposed by the WSC Italia association, unique in of its kind, which allows 5 thousand students from all over the world to meet in New York, immerse themselves in the heart of global issues and actively participate in debates and conferences with international experts.
Accompanied by their teachers Marco Cassisa and Marco Michelotti, the students spent ten days in the frenetic Big Apple, with the opportunity to visit the most iconic places such as Central Park, the MoMa, the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. However, the city visit only served as a backdrop to the real purpose of this trip: the experience with the UN.
Already prepared by a training course lasting 60 hours, the pairs of students, each called to represent one of the 193 member states of the UN, took part in the various commissions to address, discuss and propose solutions to the different and urgent issues that afflict the world. During their stay in the Metropolis, the children had the opportunity to interact with their colleagues from all over the world as diplomats, conduct speeches on complex issues (in English) and participate in negotiation simulations on crucial issues such as climate change , human rights and international peace.
In addition to the work in the commission, all the young delegates of WSC Italia were able to live an unforgettable experience, having the privilege of being guided in the Glass Palace in New York, headquarters of the United Nations. This gave them a unique perspective on how international relations work, fueling teenagers’ interest in global issues.
The project at the United Nations offered students not only an opportunity to learn and improve language skills, but also raised their awareness of the complexity of global issues and the need for international cooperation to address them.
The experience inspired the students to become conscious and active global citizens in shaping a sustainable future for all.
Isabel Merli and Giorgia Ferraglia
