Dairy of Model United Nations at Overseas Family School 2010

January 2010

I was asked by my classmate to join this conference with him one day. We were shortlisted for an interview by our school teachers and smoothly we were selected and went through a few stringent trainings with all the other MUN members, such as people from Secondary three and four, which includes those that are attending THIMUN, SCMUN, OFSMUN, and many other MUN Conference.

The mission of this conference is to cultivate communal and international awareness and understanding, to encourage international and intercultural communication and collaboration and to support the ideals of the IBO learner profile. It gives an opportunity for students to develop greater knowledge of world issues by combining individual ideas and visions, and to find solutions to them. The main goal of MUNOFS is to provide an opportunity for students to participate in a ‘training’ style conference and to gain the necessary experience to attend international conferences worldwide. Through detailed research and the exchange of ideas during debate, students will find it a thorough learning experience, both academically and socially.

After a few training sessions, Mr Tommie Chen announced to all delegates that those delegates participating in OFSMUN from our school was allocated with the country of ‘Brazil’ and I was assigned to the HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL. There are various committees that will be shown as follows:

1) General Assembly (GA)
a) Global trafficking in opium
b) Claims of sovereignty over Antarctica
c) Resolving conflicting territorial claims over Kashmir
d) Global responses to serious and rapidly spreading pandemic illnesses

2) Human Rights Committee (HRC)
a) Question of child labor
b) Question of asylum seekers in South East Asia region
c) Question of secret and forcible movement of people across international boarders

3) Economic and Social council (ECOSOC)
a) Question of forced labor
b) Measures to combat malaria and its effects
c) Fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals on education
d) Measures to protect the cultural identity of indigenous peoples in South East Asia

4) Environment Committee (ENV)
a) The issue of endangered species
b) Ensuring access to safe and adequate water supplies
c) Measures to control the environmental impact of plastics

5) Disarmament
a) Landmine removal from post-conflict areas
b) Measures to prevent the weaponization of otherwise legitimate biological research
c) Prohibiting the use of phosphorous and cluster weapons where civilians may be affected

6) Security Council (SC)
a) Iran’s nuclear program
b) Peace and stability in Pakistan
c) Question of the status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

It was really a challenge to race with limited time. Not only did I have to cope academically, but also I have to juggle with my Squash training schedules and my other council duties. I was really busy and due to the different commitments, I had lesser amount of sleep yet I spent my time efficiently. This year has been really challenging and full of new opportunities.


February ‘2010

We had a mock MUN training. The presentation had been disclosed on my last blog that was dated 22nd February.

Forum- MOCK debate session
Committee-Human Rights Council
Delegation-Mexico



March ‘2010

Conference dates-5th -7th March 2010

Venue-Overseas Families School, Singapore

Expected total participants- 300 delegates


This is my first MUN-- OFSMUN that I had attended. I should say that rare opportunities are hard to come by. Not only so, but I also need to thank my school for giving me a chance to showcase my undiscovered talents and most importantly thank my buddy (which I shall disclose as of now)Zhang Haowei Elvis, for encouraging me to go through with him for the MUN interview. Without all these, I wouldn’t have ever dreamt that I could, without fear, discuss global topics in public, with so many girls from all walks of life looking at me, staring at me, and for the first time in my life, I feel that it was the most courageous act that I have ever done. In conclusion, MUNOFS was really enjoyable, both on social and intellectual basis. It had allowed me to read more on current affairs and not be afraid to rebut others when they say something which is undesirable. I hope that all pupils who are interested, such as a few pupils in our class to participate in this MUN programme and follow us to different MUNS!!!!