MUNA

Posted by David Owen 
on May 23, 2012
 

What is MUNA?       M.U.N.A. stands for Model United Nations Assembly.

 Rotary International's relationship with the United Nations is as old as the United Nations itself. At the Charter United Nations Conference in 1945, there were 49 Rotarians in 29 of the different country delegations. The objectives of Rotary International are to encourage international understanding, goodwill and peace and this parallels those of the U.N.

 M.U.N.A. simulates the workings of the U.N. assembly by having teams of two students represent a particular U.N. country. Topics are debated on matters of world political and social concern. . The main aim is to develop an awareness of the United Nations in students as well as international situations of other countries and to encourage students to study topics from another country’s perspective.

 Resolutions cover issues such as Education, Environmental Health, Human Rights, Nuclear Proliferation, Poverty, Terrorism and World Peace. Delegates must express the views of the countries they are representing and not their own or those views of Australia. Students are also encouraged to wear the appropriate costume of their allocated country and have fun dressing up.

 The objective is to encourage young people to learn respect and tolerance for people of all races, religions and nationalities. They do this by debating U.N. topics from their given countries perspectives.

 MUNA 2012 conducted by Rotary International District 9800 will be held this weekend May 26-27 at Camp Getaway near Axedale (via Bendigo)


 Rotary Clubs  become actively involved by sponsoring two students from a local school that will comprise a M.U.N.A. team.  This year Hawthorn Rotary Club is sponsoring two students, Tahlia Thomas and Ned Hayward  from Hawthorn Secondary College (Students typically are in Year 10 or Year 11) and they have been drawn to represent  SUDAN.  Image

 Sponsorship by the club provides the  students  an opportunity to experience a live-in weekend and allows outstanding students to participate in an all expenses paid trip to Canberra in August 2012 to attend the National M.U.N.A. Convention in Old Parliament House. The Governor General is actively involved and has in the past hosted afternoon tea for all M.U.N.A. attendees at his residence. 


Good Luck to Tahlia and Ned.



 

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