Bound for the Big Apple!

WHO IS LEAVING ON WEDNESDAY AND WHY?Seventeen Villa di Maria Montessori School 5th and 6th grade students are participating in the Montessori Model United Nations as delegates this year, representing four countries:  Burkina Faso, the Republic of Peru, the Republic of Portugal, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.Students sit on a variety of committees, including the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Human Rights Council (HRC), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), Economic & Financial -- Second Committee (ECOFIN), and Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).WHAT EXACTLY IS THE MMUN?"MMUN students formulate, present, debate, and revise positions on current issues that are affecting people of the world.  By assuming the perspectives of a citizen of their selected countries, MMUN students not only develop an understanding of the needs and rights of others, but also learn the respect the cultures, the political views, and the belief system of others.Taking on their ambassadorial roles in a Model UN simulation, students research the issue that their UN committees will address. Model UN participants learn how the international community acts on its concerns about topics including peace and security, human rights, the rights of the child, child labor, the environment, food and hunger, economic development and globalization. Model UN delegates also look closely at the needs, goals and foreign policies of the countries they will represent at the event. The insights they gain from their exploration of history, geography, culture, economics and science contribute to the authenticity of the simulation.When they arrive at the MMUN Conference students transform themselves into UN Ambassadors and assume the rights and responsibilities of world leaders. Their imaginations propel them to collaboratively create resolutions to our world’s most pressing problems. MMUN encourages students to know that they can make a difference."- Montessori Model United NationsWHEN?Our Villa di Maria crew of students, teachers and parents depart Wednesday, March 9th and return on Monday, March 14th.WHERE DOES THE MMUN TAKE PLACE?New York City!  One highlight of this experience is that this is the only model United Nations that allows student delegates to vote on their draft resolutions from the seats of actual UN delegates at the actual United Nations!HOW DID THE STUDENTS PREPARE?Students begin by learning general information about the countries they represent, as well as general information about the United Nations. Students are then introduced to their committees and specific topics. They research one topic thoroughly, write a position paper on that topic, then do the same with their second topic. When position papers are complete, students write opening speeches, learn about and practice parliamentary procedure, caucusing, and drafting resolutions in order to be thoroughly prepared for the trip.The Agenda of our MMUN'ers:Wednesday:Fly to New York CityAttend the Opening Ceremonies for the MMUNThursday:Country Display Set UpCommittee SessionsVisit the Empire State Building or Times Square (2 groups)Friday:Committee Sessions, Committee Sessions, Committee Sesssions (Most of the Day!)China Town or Little ItalyWalk the Brooklyn BridgeSaturday:United Nations HeadquartersFinal Voting Assembly at the UN HQLunch at Grand Central StationVisit the American Museum of Natural HistoryWalk Central Park to the Guggenheim MuseumSunday:Sightseeing CruiseCentral ParkMonday:Fly Home!* BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE VILLA DI MARIA FACEBOOK PAGE AS THE WEEK PROGRESSES FOR UPDATES AND PICTURES OF THE GOINGS-ON IN NYC!