As a part of the NAE collaboration, students from across the world would attend an annual UNICEF conference to tackle worldly issue. This year, Vladimir and Jiwon participated in this online conference as representatives of the Regents International School Pattaya.
By: Vianca 11.1, Zafirah 11.2
An image of the United Nations Secretariat Building in New York City, New York
Q. So, we’ve heard that you’ve gone to a conference over the summer. Could you explain what that experience was like for you?
JIWON: During the conference, we had time to discuss with students from other regions about which advocacy programs we would like to initiate- what kind of programs that would suit our regions specifically, so that it would be more sufficient. Also, we had chances to hear from other students about what kind of programs they have been already planning and leading. We had chances to hear from people from the United Nations and UNICEF as well which helped us to gain insight into how practically and efficiently we would be able to actually carry out those projects.
Q. What can we expect from you as Ambassadors?
JIWON: We are planning to initiate an Advocacy Program sometime in the future. During the conference, I heard that our actual role was to teach other students how to initiate these programs so that it’s not just limited to us to plan and initiate them. But we could help other students on how to do these so that they can spread positive influence to other students as well. As for the Advocacy Program, I hadn’t heard this term before entering this conference, so I wasn’t sure as well. But it is a project that is more practical and that more suits to our region, specifically, so it can actually have effects on us. We have got some PowerPoints and some information about how to make this advocacy program more efficient. We have to consider diverse perspectives on how long it is going to be or who it is going to influence and more.
VLADIMIR: In groups, we’d planned different activities in groups that are going to happen across the globe, and we are really working forward to that. One of the activities is coming up on November 20th called the World Children’s Day, which was the design of one of the UNICEF founding agreements on the conventions of the rights of the child. I personally am looking forward to bring back the student takeover day, as well as the mufti day dress up. There is a lot of energy we’ve put into making our lives as children much better and to make us have more roles within society, rather than waiting to grow up and actually engaging in activities that grown-ups can, which includes advocacy, expressing our opinions, and making sure that we are heard.
Q. What drew you to applying for this conference?
JIWON: What drew me into it? I would say various things, but first I’ve been doing MUN, as you guys know, for several years. I had the ability to see issues and diverse perspectives and address solutions to such issues. This time, I wanted to be more specific to Thailand and to Pattaya about how these solutions could work. So, I attended this conference and heard from many other students about how they were doing it and how they plan do it.
VLADIMIR: For me, it is unbelievably exciting, because I am actually very interested in international relations. It is one of those things that interest me very much, kind of where different countries interact with one another, where they try to reach a consensus even though they have many disagreements. Instead of trying to fight wars, we try to fight them with words-we try to come to a common conclusion. We have been able to preserve peace in this way, and all the instability that is surrounding the world now, and though there have been many conflicts, there have not been overwhelming for humanity. We have kept the dialogue and we have kept our options open, and we will always speak to one another in a sophisticated manner. This is a very important thing, in my opinion, to do and to add on to my excitement, is the ability to actually change the world. To speak to different people, to share ideas, because after all, we will all end up in this world together. It’s just really exciting and just one of those opportunities you can’t miss.
Q. What do you want to say to encourage the students of our school to participate and be involved in activities similar to the UN?
JIWON: So, it is for Year 11s and Year 12s, 1 person from each year group. I think I told you guys this before, but I applied for it in Year 11, and I was planning to go to New York, the actual UN building, last, last year, and because of COVID, I couldn’t. If you guys apply to it and could actually go to New York, hopefully after this COVID situation ends, then you’ll be able to, not only do these kinds of conferences but you will be able to actually see how UNICEF works and actually see how people are working together and cooperating with each other in order to improve the world. I would highly recommend you guys to apply for it.
VLADIMIR: I would definitely say that this is a very good opportunity to actually bring meaningful change to the world around us. Model United Nations (MUN) is a great platform to learn that and advocating for your rights and freedom and ideas. You learn truly about how the world is structured politically and gives you a very good understanding about the democratic mechanisms that are employed in the UN. By participating in those activities you are broadening your specter of understanding and knowledge of, not only the topics that you discuss, but of the structure of how you talk and how you present yourself. You improve on public speaking, your confidence, and in h your leadership. It is basically one of those things that I believe everyone should do, because it has so many benefits not only to the person, but to the wider community as well.
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