We met at 6 am at the train station to go to Weimar, where the 2020 GerMUN conference took place. We were all very tired and happy to spent some time on the bus sleeping, but we were also excited and looking forward to our time in Weimar.

When we finally arrived in Weimar, we just had time to get our rooms ready, get dressed and leave for the opening ceremony. The ceremony as well as the General Assembly sessions took place in an old riding hall. We were all excited for the conference, but also very tired after the long day of traveling.

Our delegate Luis had the honour to become president of the German Model United Nations 2020 conference.

I was going to serve in the Security Council, which is the most exciting but also most challenging committee at any Model UN so when we finally started the sessions, I was very nervous. The work in the Security Council was very challenging, as there not even all Member States were present so we had to give speech after speech. However, it was still a lot of fun and a great exercise to improve our speaking skills.

The work on the resolutions was somehow difficult as we were discussing the difficult topic of how to get the youth involved in the prevention of terror attacks. The Security Council also has the difficult task to consider all the veto powers, that could destroy the work of multiple days with only one vote. As I was representing the UK, which is a veto power, I was approached by the other delegates a lot. It was pretty cool to be in this position and to potentially  be able to prevent anything the others were suggesting.

It was also great to meet some people I knew from last year and to get to know new people and to get to know them.

It’s always overcoming your own fears, when giving an inspiring speach on an Model UN conference.

The other committees also worked really hard, as we wanted to finish the voting process before the delegates dance, which took place on our last evening. The Security Council even managed to discuss the other topics on the agenda and pass a presidential statement on the situation in Myanmar. It was during our time in Weimar that Turkish soldiers were killed in Syria. This was brought to our attention and we tried to bring this into the Security Council as a crisis. It would have been amazing to be able to discuss a real life scenario like that. I brought in the idea to the Secretary General and we were allowed to consider it. However, due to a veto vote, we were not able to discuss the topic and kept working on our original agenda. Later on I found out that an hour after I brought in the motion to change the agenda, the real UK asked for a meeting of the actual Security Council. 

Outside of the sessions we had a great time. We got to get to know the other delegations and we also got to know our own delegation even better.

Sadly, not everyone had such a great time. During our free time in the evening some delegates were subjected to racist behavior of some other delegates. However horrible this was, our delegation stood together against this and we are very glad that all the responsible people in the more important positions, took the necessary steps to make sure that racism and other discrimination has no place at such an intercultural event as a Model UN conference. 

However at the end of these exhausting, yet exciting days, I think we had all learned a lot and had made some really great memories. Even though this turned out to be the end of this Model UN project, we can all be proud of ourselves and of what we have accomplished. Everyone was able to grow as a person and to learn new skills. We are looking forward to when we can all meet again in person and get to have a great end to the Model UN project of 2020.

Right after we arrived in Berlin at 26^th of February we headed directly to the Iranian Embassy. As we get to represent the Islamic Republic of Iran in New York, we were very honoured to get to speak to a real-life Iranian diplomat. The Embassy is a beautiful white building in a very normal-looking neighbourhood in Berlin. We got to spend three hours with Mr. Gholipour, who was very nice and answered all our questions. He provided us with lots of information and a small view into the mind of an Iranian. Personally, I feel confident about being able to stay “in character” as our professor likes to put it. As I am writing this, I am still trying to process all the impressions I got.

On Wednesday we had to leave our beds early to go to the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The gentleman talking to us was not only an expert on Iran-related topics, but also has been a part of the NMUN project some years before. He was able to explain certain aspects of the Islamic Republic of Iran from an external point of view and even had some advice for our upcoming conference. Another plus was, that we got bags with gifts and snacks like gummy bears.

As we left the Ministry, we headed to the German parliament. It took some waiting but finally we were seated in the big plenary. We heard an interesting talk about the history of the building and the structures of our government in general. In the end, we took the chance to go up to the roof of the building. Sadly, the dome was closed, but we had a wonderful view over Berlin.

In the evening we enjoyed an Iranian meal together in a small restaurant. It was a great adventure with a rather unusual kind of food for us. And some Safran ice cream for dessert.

Full concentration on GerMUN 2019

On Thursday we left for the GerMUN conference at Wannsee. I was very happy to meet some of the people from Trier that we had already met in Blankenheim. But I also got nervous as the first session came closer. There were so many different delegations that seemed well prepared. Then, after I totally screwed up my first speech in front of 50 delegates and others, the last bit of confidence had left me. But the session went on. The agenda was set, and I found a working group with some great ideas. As the sessions went by, we developed good ideas and even a strategy to achieve our goals.

And then it was time to find merging partners, as we were told to reduce our 8 working papers to 3 draft resolutions. I talked to many different delegates and working groups. They all said, they didn’t see any way they could merge with us. I found myself getting really frustrated as the time went by and the deadline was getting closer and still, we had our very lonely working paper. It was exhausting to keep up talking to people without getting advice even when we asked for it. Finally, we found another paper to merge with and I could feel the stress leaving my body.

It’s not always easy to be a delegate

But not only for me it was quite an exciting time. For two of our delegates it was their first conference as they were not able to attend the conference in Blankenheim. It was great to see how everyone tried to help them as good as possible. Others had a hard time representing their assigned Member State. I will not forget one of the most relaxed delegates telling me that he cried for 30 minutes after he felt like all the pressure was gone. I think everyone was able to learn something about themselves and we all saw how we could make it through a stressful and exhausting conference.

The most fun we had, of course, at night. I had some great talks and discussions with other delegates. Not only about the conference but also about the bible, gender-roles and racism, to name just a few topics. Everyone there was very openminded and had a great way of explaining their point of view which led to very enjoyable discussions. I made some great connections and I am looking forward to seeing them again in New York.

At our last lunch after the closing ceremony, I think most of us felt exhausted and were looking forward to our beds at home, but we were also very euphoric and proud of ourselves.

We had some very exhausting days with much to less sleep and some very long days. I feel very proud to be a part of this project and this delegation. It was some very hard work, but I was able to learn a lot about myself and others and I made some friends from all over Germany and even the UK (as there was one delegation form Southampton).

Gallery: GerMUN 2019

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.

Besides that it was a welcomed training only a few weeks before the NMUN conference in New York City takes place. Our delegate Giulia had the honour to represent Italia in the SC. An experience that had improved her skills, as she told afterwards.

At this conference we met several other delegates from Erfurt, Magdeburg, Munich and Trier. We had the opportunity to practice and strengthen our skills for NMUN, such as holding speeches, writing resolutions or acting diplomatically.

After the opening ceremony, where the organizer welcomed the delegates and introduced the chairs of the three committees we started with our session. I had the honor to represent Italy in the Security Council. The topic, we decided to discuss in the Security Council were Threats to International Peace and Security by Terrorist Acts. We were a small group of thirteen delegates in the Security Council. Due to that we were able to discuss the topic in an open dialogue and to talk to every member of the Security Council during informal session. Furthermore we had the chance to hold several speeches while formal session. The positive and peaceful atmosphere in our council encouraged all of us to work cooperatively.

At the beginning of this conference I was very nervous about holding a speech in front of the other delegates and talking to them during informal session. But the second day showed me, that I can manage my nervousness and I was motivated to talk more often to the other delegates.

The experiences I made at the conference in Strausberg motivates me to step up to the delegates during informal session at NMUN in New York and holding more speeches cause at GerMUN I realized, that I don’t have to be so nervous in front of the other delegates. I am looking forward to meet all the other students in New York and work together with them.

We also had the pleasure to have some fun and to talk to the delegates from the other two committees at the Delegates Dance. I am looking forward to see them again in New York.

Text: Dascoli | Fotos: Müglich, Beck, Weiß, Grube