Once again the students from Recklinghausen and Gelsenkirchen were working together with students from Japan. Together with the Kobe City University of Foreign Studies we participated as a joint delegation in the biggest UN simulation worldwide.

After months of preperation we were in best shape to represent the interests of our assigned member state, South Africe, in the several UN committees in New York City.

The negotiations were concentrating on fighting counter terrorism, establishing sustainable goals and many more topics. All delegates did a great job and were included in the work of important working papers that were all adopted as resolutions in the final voting procedure.

Some delegates who enjoyed NMUN for the second or even third time, expanded their experiences by applying as chair. They got the job at the PBC, ECOSOC and the SC.

The visit at the UN headquarter is every year the highlight of the conference. Due to schedule issues this year the opening ceremony was held at the place where it really happens instead of the closing ceremony. Several keynote speaker were talking about the importance of the simulation and were inspiring all delegates to do the very best during the 4 days of the conference.

At the end our efforts were rewarded (once again) with an award as honorable mentioned delegation. A great archievement!

After the opening ceremony, where we were friendly welcomed, we met the delegates from Erfurt, Magdeburg, Munich and Trier. Then we split up in three committees. I had the honour to represent the Kingdom of Sweden in the Security Council where we decided to discuss the topic “The Situation in Libya”.

Due to the fact that we were only thirteen delegates in this committee the atmosphere in our conference room was very tense in the beginning. I was slightly nervous but after the first formal session, the nervousness was gone and I started to relax and to encourage myself to take the chance to hold several speeches during the formal sessions and to actively participate in the informal sessions. One of the benefits of a small committee was that I was able to talk with all delegates and to discuss with them all new suggestions.

The more time I spend the more I feel myself confident and I experienced that self-assurance is one of the keywords for being successful. We had a lot of discussions during this four days in the formal sessions but they all were necessary to develop a common ground.

Furthermore, I highly appreciated the spirit of cooperation and consensus in my committee because I enjoyed the work so much that I wish we could discuss the two other topics too. We have learned from another and have deepened our skills regarding to holding speeches and acting diplomatically and of course writing resolutions.

For me, personally, it was the best learning experience only a few weeks before the conference in New York begins. I think I can speak on the behalf of our delegation that we all are really looking forward representing the Republic of South Africa in the best way.

Basically,not the honourable diplomats discussed there, however, we, thestudents from the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences and our fellow students from the University of Trier, were definitely snowbound. And it was exhausting as well.

After our new delegation got behind the scenes of the Recklinghäuser Model United Nations in Classroom MUNiC a first impression of international conferences they made their first own steps on the international floor in Blankenheim with success.

Arrival and climbing to the castle in the beginning snow fall had similarities with class trips at school and when all changed their winter coats and walking boots to business attire the feeling was jittery as in the last week bevor the school holidays. But we were not going to a night walk but to present our countries position in front of other students. In English, as our country was not the Federal Republic of Germany but a casted lot from Armenia to Zimbabwe. We had to learn more about this countries before the conference. Not only facts and figures but even about the way people feel and think there as it is not common to be against peace and development aid. However, the State of Palestine discusses the way to that goal different than Israel and the selling of natural resources for a railway line in Africa is not for everybody development aid.

Conflict lines that were visible in the plenum and caused stormy discussions. In the long hours of the conference these trenches could be filled up. After two days the committee adopted three resolutions that asked the United Nations to build a Pan African water pipeline and to establish a new committee for the scientific analysis of the distribution of natural resources.

And after 48 hours of plenary debate, informal discussion and even international understanding with a beverage in the hours after the conference the diplomats went back to their universities. Not only with a lack of sleep but primarily with improved English skills und new self-confidence. We are very grateful to the German Society for the United Nations DGVN and the fellow students from the University of Trier for the organisation of this conference.

But after the conference is before the conference and even in the time before Christmas press releases of the United Nations were studied with cookies and mulled wine for the German Model United Nations in Weimar.

Text: L. Kunz

Photos: A. Müglich