United Nations Model: An intercultural experience

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Three students from Klasse 12 had the opportunity to be a part of the United Nations Model, carried out in the United Nations (UN), in New York. An experience full of continuous learning.

 

Andrés Montoya Betancourt (Klasse 12A), Juan Lucas Barbier Garzón (Klasse 12D) and Andrés Jesús Ramírez Bernal (Klasse 12D), are the leaders of the United Nations Model at Deutsche Schule Medellín-DSMUN-. They participated in the model that took place in New York and that is planned by the United Nations -UN-. They were able to  strengthen their research skills, critical thinking and public speaking skills. They were also in contact with people from all over the world. We talked to them.

 

DSM: How does the UN Model  (or MUN) make it easier for you to understand other cultures?

Andrés Ramírez (AR): “Being a part of the MUN allows us to take on a role in which we have to defend positions that are very different from our own. It makes us understand the entire context in order to make decisions. It is an invitation to be open minded in order to understand how different cultures work”.

Juan Lucas Barbier (JLB): “Interculturality is expressed through debates in the Model. There are a lot of people with different identities in one space. And we value ideas and arguments above all”.

Andrés Montoya (AM): “Because we are required to know the cultures that we represent. We have to study history thoroughly and understand the society of each country. To sum up, we must get immersed in their culture”.

 

DSM: Having the opportunity to be at a MUN at the United Nations Headquarters in New York is a fascinating experience. What did you learn?

AM: “What I remember the most is the people that we met there. We were in contact with people from all over the world”.

AR: “This trip was a huge learning experience. Besides what we saw at the MUN, we had the opportunity to learn how to solve problems on our own. There were no grown-ups with us, and we had to demonstrate that we were independent enough to move around an unknown city”.

 

DSM: What did the MUN teach you that will stay with you for the rest of your life?

JLB: “Being a part of a Model will always be one of the most enriching experiences. This MUN has given me something that I always wanted: discipline when I study. Beyond the academic aspects, we can speak better and understand other people’s ideologies a lot better too”.

AR: “I learned three big things: values such as acceptance and tolerance, good listening skills, and general knowledge and the development of communication skills when it comes to arguing, researching, talking and persuading”.

AM: “The MUN has given me a lot of discipline. We have to plan everything because we need to be able to argue valid points on both sides”.