were against this idea as it did not
benefit them due to the advanced
level of health care within their
own countries. In the end the
Environment Commission had an
end proposal which was going to
be presented in the Global Summit,
which was going to take place
at the UN. Each country had the
chance to vote or to veto all of the
commission’s proposals that were
going to be put forward. During the
conference six of the commissions
that South Africa wanted were
passed, however the Science and
Technology commission that my
group wanted was vetoed.
In New York, I had the chance to
have some fun with my fellow
conference attendees; we explored
bustling Times Square and China
Town, the Rockefeller Centre, went
shopping on 5th Avenue and saw
Matilda on Broadway. On the last
night of the conference I went on a
farewell cruise that sailed past the
Statue of Liberty.
This trip really helped me to
understand the importance of
politics and economics and it
allowed me to develop a range of
social and leadership skills. Having
the chance to meet other scholars
also helped me to broaden my
cultural awareness; I have made
friends from Ecuador, Canada
and Kenya. Having been able to
attend this trip has enabled me
to understand the importance of
the current issues in the world
today and has ignited my passion
for further study of politics and
economics at university.
This trip has been a great
experience and is one that I would
recommend to anyone who is
interested in politics, economics
and international relations. I have
made so many amazing friends
from all over the world. I would like
to take this opportunity to thank
SPA (UK) for their help as their
support was invaluable. This was an
incredible journey that I will never
forget.
Heena Mistry, Leicester
79
Also during this conference I
attended several key note speakers
presentations. Dr Gary Weaver
gave all conference participants
information on the types of skills
that we are all going to need
to develop in order to achieve
better careers in the future.
There were also presentations by
representatives from the World
Bank and International Monetary
Fund who discussed their career
paths, the functions, potential
and limitations of world financial
institutions and the consequences
of a globalised market. I enjoyed
listening to these representatives
as it helped me get a better
understanding of different areas
of politics and how to structure my
future with regards to a career in
economics.
As well as developing our
leadership skills in the simulations,
we were also given the chance
to exercise these skills by
participating in an event called the
GYLC Olympics. As a group we took
part in the activities that promoted
teamwork and development of
social skills. We performed in the
national delegations rally where
we highlighted the culture of our
country groups. We each read out a
line of the poem Invictus by William
Ernest Henley and performed the
traditional Gumboot Dance which is
a cultural dance of Africa.
A major part of the trip was the
cultural expedition of Washington
and New York. In Washington, I
visited all the memorials (Lincoln
Memorial, Korean War Memorial,
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial
to name but a few). The visit to
The White House was memorable.
My experience at the Holocaust
museum was very moving and
shocking. It showed artefacts from
the period, some of which included
the thousands of shoes left behind
by Jewish victims. This visit further
educated me on the events that
took place during the Second World
War. As I study History, it put in
context many of the things I have
learnt. At the Japanese Embassy
a representative gave a key note
speech on the role of diplomatic
communities in furthering national
interests and how they explore
different strategies to resolve
global problems.