25.10.2022

1st UN Simulation with 9th graders debates Sustainable Development

By Felipe Lima

How important is the union of countries for the world to move towards a sustainable future? The 9th-grade students (Y9), encouraged by triggering themes in the classroom in the disciplines of Science and Geography, participated in the first simulation of the United Nations Assembly at Beacon. The moment was an opportunity to present how different delegations dialogue and establish action plans on certain issues. In this case, sustainable development. 

This UN simulation model – also known as Model United Nations (MUN) – was created in the United States and its mission is to offer the students the opportunity to act as diplomats, in order to, through debate, reach a solution to a problem. The modal, besides stimulating young people to expand their knowledge, also helps develop skills such as cooperation, conflict resolution, self-confidence, research, oratory, and empathy. 

In Science classes, the students, who throughout the year were able to delve deeper into the topic of Sustainability, researched and learned more about the biodiversity of each country and the ecosystem as a whole, including the collection of raw materials available for sustainable development. There were several discussions and activities, mainly audiovisual, that involved topics such as renewable sources, quantities of gas and coal, and the use of active ingredients in the pharmaceutical market. 

In Geography, the classes provided the opportunity to have a broader vision of the world, with a deeper understanding of territories such as Asia, Europe, and Oceania, as well as the continuous globalization process. In this way, the students were able to understand the unique characteristics of each country, as well as the international organizations and the political debate processes. 

During the simulation, the students – who represented the delegations from Brazil, Germany, France, China, India, Russia, and Japan – talked about how the represented country invests in sustainable actions and presented ideas that can be put into practice in partnership with other nations. In addition, they exposed how current political scenarios affect these international relations, recreating, with property, the United Nations debate. 

As a closing, the students wrote a letter reporting their delegation’s commitment to the theme of Sustainable Development. The atmosphere of cooperation ended with a brief celebration provided by the students, who brought typical dishes from the region represented in the assembly.