EAMUN
51 schools from across East Africa gathered at the United Nations Office, Nairobi, for a weeklong conference for the 35th East African Model United Nations.
At the annual conference, students, who are known as delegates, are split up into different committees as representatives of a country, where they discuss various issues around the world, like the real UN would in their headquarters in New York, or in the subsidiary regional headquarters in Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi.
These committees include: 1. Human Rights 2. Political 3. Ecology and Environment 4. Security Council 5. Special Summit While at the conference, delegates are required to observe diplomatic protocol at all times during the conference. This includes dress code, language, and respect among many other expectations. The topics debated are written by delegates prior to the conference and they pass through several processes before being finally approved and included into the specific committee’ s agenda. The fortunate delegate, whose resolution is passed, then has the opportunity to read it out and defend their resolution to the committee. Other delegates representing various countries in that committee are then asked to vote on the resolution; they can either be‘ for’,‘ against’ or decide to‘ abstain’.
This year in particular, the delegation from Hillcrest was represented by 16 students from year 11 and year 12, taking on various roles as members of the state from Senegal, Tanzania, and Finland. We were privileged to be addressed by Lisa Kurbiel, UNICEF Child Labour Coordinator in East and Southern Africa, Shivani Bhalla, Ewaso Lions and Evelyn Njambi, Miss World Kenya and Miss World Africa.
I would like to specifically thank Ambassadors Callan Day( Finland), Vie Bierens( Senegal) and Michelle Nyaribari( Tanzania) for leading their delegations effectively. Their delegates also deserve commendation for giving up their time and putting in immense effort prior and during the conference. Congratulations to Sibi Nyaoga who received the Best Securitary Award during the conference. Many thanks to Mr Huma for the thorough preparation prior to the conference and to Ms Mburu and Mrs Mnanu for accompanying us.
By Michelle Nyaribari
www. hillcrest. ac. ke 37