Hundreds of youngsters in UAE stage mock UN assembly to learn about respect

More than 400 young people participated in the mock UN General Assembly conference in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy of Pragya Chawla

ABU DHABI // More than 400 young people of 80 different nationalities from schools and universities across the UAE took part in the fourth Cambridge Model United Nations.

The three-day conference was organised by the Cambridge High School, Abu Dhabi, with the support of Higher Colleges of Technology, and it aimed to teach the children and young people about respect and living in harmony through creating a model experience of being part of the UN General Assembly.

Dr Sultan Karmastoji, who presided over the concluding session of the conference, said: “I believe that values of the United Nations have been reflected in this conference.”

He said that HCT would continue to support the event next year.

Mariam Al Fahim, head of college services at HCT, said the conference hoped to positively affect the lives of the participants and prepare them to be better global citizens through quality education.

The 16-year-old director general of the conference, Pragya Chawala, said being able to role-play and debate as diplomats do at the United Nations was challenging and rewarding.

Jason Jonathan King, the principal of Cambridge High School, said: “I am proud to see young people from across UAE schools and universities engaging in dialogue, discussing some of the challenges of our world today. These young people are our future.”

He added that his school was also going to organise a model Arab League Conference for Abu Dhabi students.

Zaynab Kamran, a 13-year-old Grade 8 pupil at Cambridge High, said: “This was the first time that I participated and it was truly an indescribable experience. Every day of this three-day conference came with a different type of motive and adventure.

“The conference did not only increase my political skills but also taught me how to approach different kinds of people and how to deal with them.”