In May 2017, the Rotary Club of Berwick sponsored Hayden Radford and Jordan Van Rhyn,
Year 11 students at Nossal High in Berwick to participate in the District 9820 Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) competition, held in Phillip Island. Winning the competition, Hayden and Jordan went on to represent Rotary District 9820 at the MUNA Nationals at the Old Parliament House in Canberra in August. 
 
On Wednesday night the pair were back at the Club to report on their experiences at the nationals where they got to debate current world political affairs and diplomacy with some of the brightest young minds across the country. 
 
 
At MUNA young people learn the inner workings of the United Nations, developing strategies, forging alliances and debating resolutions. As delegates for the United States, Jordan and Hayden got to visit the American Embassy in Canberra and receive first hand briefings from senior US diplomats in a bid to better understand some of the complex diplomatic issues facing the current administration. Despite the challenges presented by some of the current US policies, the Nossal pair acquitted themselves with aplomb and finish 3rd overall, winning the respect of the other MUNA delegates and that of the US representative who was in the audience.
 
The purpose of the Rotary Model United Nations Assembly is to encourage young people to learn about other countries and to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the role of the United Nations. Delegates also develop debating skills, gain self-confidence in public speaking and leadership skills. In many cases, long term friendships are forged through MUNA.
Rotary MUNA simulates the workings of the UN General Assembly right down to the Rules & Processes.
 
Teams of two students from year 10 and (preferably) year 11 represent a nominated UN Member State. They are given topics well in advance. Resolutions are typically drawn from resolutions passed through the General Assembly or the Security Council and cover issues such as Education, Environment, Health, Human Rights, Nuclear Proliferation, Poverty, and Terrorism, the role of Women in promoting Peace and Security, and World Peace. Delegates must research the topics and be able to express the views of the country that they are representing, not their own or Australia’s (unless they are the Australian Delegation!).
 
Delegates are encouraged to wear an appropriate national costume and have fun doing it. The objective is to encourage young people to learn respect and tolerance for people of all cultures, races, religions and nationalities. MUNA is all about building bridges of goodwill for world peace and understanding in the minds of our youth. As we move into the third millennium, we hope that by encouraging and facilitating dialogue between young people the future of our planet and of those who inhabit it will be enhanced.
 
MUNA challenges our youth to respect cultural diversity and differences of race and religion while retaining their own individualism and the best of their national customs and traditions.
 
Hayden and Jordan delivered an excellent report to the club. They were very appreciated of the opportunity to participate in MUNA and to travel to Canberra for the finals. Importantly, they both had fun... as evidenced by the photos and their fond accounts of visits to various landmarks and meetings with the who is who of politics and world diplomacy.
John Caruana spoke on behalf of the District 9820 MUNA Committee, thanking the Rotary Club of Berwick for its support of MUNA over the last few years.  He congratulated the students whom he said were excellent ambassadors for Rotary and Nossal. Well done John and District 9820 for this amazing opportunity for our young people.
 
Well done also to Hayden and Jordan! We can’t wait follow your progress in whatever career you choose to pursue. Congratulations to Roger Page and Nossal High on producing such fine young individuals.
 
The Rotary Club of Berwick will again sponsor a team to MUNA in May 2018. 
For more information on next year’s MUNA 2018 visit www.muna9820.org.au/#intro.
 
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