BSN Voorschoten Hosts Model United Nations
For over 5 years now, the Senior School in Voorschoten (part of the British School in the Netherlands) has been hosting a Model United Nations conference in the Autumn term, bringing students from different schools around the country and abroad together to debate on current world issues. While ordinarily country representatives regroup in the UN headquarters in NYC, as well as in Geneva,?Nairobi,?Vienna, and?The Hague, for a brief time through MUN they head in spirit north to Voorschoten. However, this time students take the roles of nations in the various existing committees, maintaining their countries’ ideals and goals.
Romeo Buet
Last year, as we all know was a challenging time, where our greatest foe Covid, moved invisible to the naked eye, forcing us to retreat into our homes for a time. Nevertheless, it did not stop our love for the Model United Nations, our desire to hold conferences grew even firmer.
From that experience we learned to adapt, overcome and create new ways to live life to the fullest; and in the case of youth debate, it came in the form of moving to online video platforms, managing webinars of hundreds of students. Students swapped hoodies and trainers for suit jackets and Oxford shoes.
On the weekend of the 26th of November heads will turn once again to 3 Jan van Hooflaan in Voorschoten, as the sound of gavels striking wood will mark the end of unmoderated caucus and the start of two consecutive days of constructive debate: a major leap of progress from the single day 6-hour online conference back in March.
For the first time the conference is managed by a dedicated Board of Directors, carefully crafted by the elected Presidency, Secretary-General Romeo Buet and Deputy Secretary-General Magda Godzina, with a vision for a more efficient and gratifying conference, through task delegation and team specialisation.
Joining this managerial team is the Secretariat, with 6 members, one for each of the committee holding sessions at the 7th BSNMUN conference. Maintaining classics such as General Assembly and Security Council, but also some making a long-awaited return like ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) and Human Rights Council after 3 years of disappearance, two altogether new additions were introduced this year.
The Special Conference and International Court of Justice committee were launched for some drastic change of scenery and for inquisitive minds to relinquish a unique experiential learning opportunity.
Desks will align in the halls of the British School, to accommodate the many delegations carefully chosen from every corner of the globe, represented by over 100 students all from different parts of the country in the spirit of the United Nations, with schools such as the International School in The Hague, the British School in Amsterdam and the United World College in Maastricht. Placards raised, resolutions composed, motion entertained, and committees adjourned, this upcoming edition of the BSNMUN will be unlike anything previous; against all odds, it stands to be the base of a bright future.
A step in the right direction to what may grow one day to be a reputable THIMUN (The Hague International Model United Nations) affiliated conference, attended by all.