Building Communities... One MUN Club at a Time

ISSUE III VOLUME XVI January September 2016 2015 ONLINEONLINE EDITION EDITION

Inside this Edition: Page 2: New Delegate Focus Page 3: Student Spotlight! Page 4: MSMUN-Q Update! Building communities... Announcements

•OMUN Debates: one MUN club at a time -(Feb. 7) Security Council: Assessing the situation in Western Sahel -(Feb. 13) General Assembly: Pro- moting international standards for genetic screen- ing By Lisa Martin schooled students in rity and convince help from online Doha, deepening the their families to let resources (Best Del- -(Feb 20) Envi- THIMUN Qatar commitment to the them participate.” egate is my savior), I has a special out- HELA/AFMUN club Club leader Vaidehi think we’ve managed ronment Commis- reach dynamic in in Kabul, and men- Vish said that her to do a pretty good sion: Measures to play, and 2016 will toring and buddying outreach with Sri job.” reduce food waste be a showcase year up with students Lankan students was for promoting the from Palestine, in- challenging due to Delegates have been in MEDCs concept collaborative cluding Gaza. THI- time zone differenc- making progress, community build- MUN Qatar 2016 will es. Back in Doha, learning the MUN -(Feb 27) Advisory ing. The culture of play host to four very Chris Nasrawi, PGA lingo, how to write Panel: Question of collaborative lead- unique delegations, of THIMUN Qatar policy statements ership, already well and in the process, and a student at and resolutions and reducing domestic entrenched here in expanding the larger Park House English generally getting (social, political) Qatar, took on new TQ community. School commented, oriented to the up- tensions within life when the concept “One of my biggest coming conference. the ASEAN coun- of MUN outreach Collaborative out- challenges has defi- Sajindra from Sri as service began reach has at times nitely been trying to Lanka stated “I am tries to emerge with the proven challenging. mentor MUN from anxious and also still establishment of Mursal Saidali, a scratch. Trying to have some fear be- •THIMUN Qatar: the THIMUN Qatar TQ2015 delegate retrace what I need- cause it’s going to be Afghanistan Initia- and now one of the ed to learn to bring my first experience Jan 26-29 tive. This in turn leaders of the HELA myself here, and fill in (an MUN) confer- prompted a series of in Afghanistan, said in the gaps in their ence.” Irshadullhaq •Film Festival new outreach ideas: that the security knowledge with- from Afghanistan Submission Due supporting a group situation in Kabul out assuming prior stated that the trip of students in eastern made it challenging knowledge or using was the best way of Date: Jan 10 Sri Lanka and bring- to actually meet as MUN jargon they improving his skills ing them to THI- a team in order to don’t understand and that “by joining MUN Qatar 2016, prepare. “It’s hard to has been really hard. reaching out to home ensure their secu- With hard work and (Continued on Page 6) Page 1 ISSUE III VOLUME VIVIIIIXX DecemberJanuary September November 2016 2015 2015 2015 ONLINE ONLINE ONLINEONLINE EDITION EDITION EDITION EDITION Director Forum Biggest pet peeve: Lateness Animal Lover? Yes Biggest challenge juggling teaching and being and MUN Director: Time to finish every- thing on time. Three things you wish parents or students understood about MUN: The importance it is for the future, becoming a global citizen and having global awareness, and how it prepares them for the real world. Name: Gloria Ines Gerard-Penalbert Most memorable MUN moment: Every School: The English Modern School of Doha time I see my delegates shine and feel good about themselves. Number of Years Being an MUN Director: 5 years Open Forum: MUN is a stepping stone for the future leaders and just the future. This is the pre- Conferences Attended: As director - 30 fect place to put your feelings aside and to look at life through someone else’s eyes. If anything is Idea of a dream vacation: Owning my own going to change in this world it is going to start school with these delegates! New Delegate Focus Thoughts about MUN- What have you learned?: Mun has taught me personally many skills of public speaking, as I have had a previous issue with confidence with a large audience. It has also taught me about many conflict issues, going on all over the world that necessarily does not reach the middle east. It has taught me debating skills that have have not occupied in previous years, and have learned to fight for myself. Finally, Mun has taught me about in- teractioan with people and meeting new delegates, charis, famous people that I share and get ideas from to develop my own knowledge. What is the most difficult/most fun about learning Name: Srijay Gokul MUN?: The most difficult aspect of mun, was the fear of every conference, and determining if youre worth it to School: Qatar academy, Class 10 B debate, or your not good enough. It creates a huge downfall in your self confidence, and overall ruins the whole con- Age: 16 ference for yourself and for others. The truth is, the fear is useless and does not exist, because as new delegates there From: Chennai, India are in the same position as you and when interacting with them can make you more confident and have a fun confer- Number of brothers/sisters: Diya Gokul, grade 12. ence as a whole. The most fun thing that can be obtained Qatar academy, and Mun Specialist. from MUN is the experience of meeting new people and sharing new ideas. I think Mun is a great opportunity to be A little bit of information about parents: Mom: associated gain experience, and jump to new heights with Doctor (Emergency physician), Dad: Doctor (Orthopedic self confidence. Surgeon) Thoughts about your future participation in MUN: Grade in school: 10th Grade Favorite subject in school: My future in MUN will be very active, as I want to step up Science, English, French, and Cultural Studies my game, and want to become chair next year. Therefore Favorite activity to do in free time: Reading, and Go- I will try my best to attend most conferences, and try to ing to the gym (physical education) for balance in life. increase my experience this year alone being a delegate, so that next year I can apply for chair and try and occupy that Some interesting fact or two about yourself: I have spot. This is as MUN is a great venture to be on resumes, an interest to acting, and movie making as I have been and is a great opportunity to learn about world issues, meet involved in many dramas, theatre play, and short films. new people and improve your self confidence! Page 2 ISSUE III VOLUME VIIIIXXVI DecemberJanuary September November 2016 2015 2015 2015 ONLINE ONLINE ONLINEONLINE EDITION EDITION EDITION EDITION Student Spotlight terrupt you and then totally Observant, adventurous, derail the conversation so competitive you can’t finish what you had to say anymore :’( Favorite Comfort Food: Curry flavoured instant Personal MUN Goal for noodles the year: To help make sure THIMUN Qatar runs Dream vacation: Back- smoothly, and to get the packing across the Philip- Doha Home Educators and pines Park House delegates totally prepared for all the MUN Pet Peeve: Totally unpre- Name: Christopher Nas- conferences they’ll run into pared MUN delegates rawi this year and in future. Personal MUN Goal for Year: 13 One major improve- the year: My personal ment you’d like to see in MUN goal for the year is to Current MUN Leader- Model UN: In many of the throw a successful, serious ship Positions: Secretary conferences I’ve attended, Model UN conference and General at PHESMUN, nations have not been rep- put my school on the figu- President of the General resented entirely accurately Name: Alya Saud Al-Am- rative MUN map. There’s a Assembly at THIMUN Qatar in debate. I think learning to mari word in arabic that’s always argue perspectives you may used to describe bad confer- Three words that de- not agree with is the most Grade: 11, first year IB ences, and it’s “maskhara”. scribe you as a delegate: important skill that Model Basically, my goal is not to Friendly, but Realistic and UN teaches, as it helps make School/Country: Ibn hear it. Uncompromising people more empathetic and Khuldoon National School, understanding, and makes Bahrain One major improve- Favorite Comfort Food: finding solutions to day-to- ment you’d like to see in Hummus day conflicts all the easier. Current MUN Leader- Model UN: I’d like to see Therefore, in the interest of ship: Positions Head of more Arabic councils ex- Favorite thing to do making the world a bet- school MUN club Secretary pand in my region. It makes when you don’t have ter place, I think having General of Ibn Khuldoon MUN so much more inclu- homework: Watch Car- delegates properly research Model United Nations, Bah- sionary, especially to gov- toons (Steven Universe and and embody their assigned rain (IKMUN) ernment schools- who often Gravity falls are too good) countries’ views is the im- have the best delegates. provement I’d like to see. Three words that de- Pet Peeve: People who in- scribe you as a delegate: AKISMUN - The Legacy Continues By Zazza Agri - AKISMUN hence opening up many 2nd conference, we will be through mutual under- Head of Communications opportunities for us in the accepting schools of vary- standing.” - AKISMUN near future. ing curricula across Qatar, Executive Team This year, on the 27th of including any aspiring March; Al Khor Interna- The second annual AKIS- Student Officers wishing to tional School (AKIS) made MUN conference to be held chair a committee.”We hope history by hosting their first on the 15th of April 2016 AKISMUN will not only MUN conference which with an overall theme of provide delegates with an turned out to be a huge ‘Global Goals’will pick up amazing experience but also success, stimulating the on last years success whilst give a chance to delegates minds of young leaders in following THIMUN proce- to pick up new skills while Qatar. With more than 400 dures. Aiming to increase gaining different perspec- participants including dele- the number of delegates, tives on pressing issues gates from various of other we hope to have 8 commit- around the globe. schools such as Al Jazeera, tees which include General Dukhan English School Assemblies 1,2,3,4 and 6 as “We want to focus on and International School of well as ECOSOC, HRC, and offering new delegates an London, we were able to set Security Council. opportunity to engage with up 7 committees which suc- MUN, while giving experi- ceeded in engaging fruitful The AKISMUN team be- enced delegates a chance discussions regarding their lieves that inviting other to have a seat at the chair assigned issue. In addition schools to attend its confer- table.We are proud to say to this, we are happy to say ence is essential as it would that, Al Khor International that AKISMUN has allowed provide an educational School strongly believes in us to build better relation- benefit for students across diversity and therefore, the ships between other schools Qatar. For AKISMUN’s promotion of world peace Page 3 ISSUE III VOLUME VIVIIIIXX DecemberJanuary September November 2016 2015 2015 2015 ONLINE ONLINE ONLINEONLINE EDITION EDITION EDITION EDITION JrOMUN: A director’s Arabic MUN to be view from Taiwan hosted at THIMUN bate opportunities for my students, I found Qatar 2016 jrO-MUN bychance one day. Upon further exploration of the jrO- MUN website, I was de- lighted tolearn that the program is absolutely FREE for students and schools! The high school student organizers of the jrO-MUN program do a great job ofguiding students through the By Salma Hassan, it far more reward- By Jessica DelaO, multi-step process of Chair of the Arabic ing. Debates in the MUN Director Interna- preparing for debates Committee Arabic committee are tional Bilingual School via the educational Hsinchu network, Edmodo.com. always so fierce and Prior to the actual de- The second interna- filled with passion, JrOnline United Na- bate, student organiz- tional arabic committee they never disappoint tions has been an ers post reminders, tips is going to be held at and that’s because the incredible opportunity and advise for middle THIMUN Qatar 2016. delegates know the for my middle school school delegates via This year the commit- topics because they students, grades 6-8,to the jrO-MUN Edmodo participate in Model group. The Edmodo tee is much larger, it are issues happening United Nations’ de- group has given my has more delegates, in their countries, so bates with students students a unique more topics and more they feel a connection. from around the world. opportunity tointeract diversity than last year. This year’s topics to be The International and work collaborative- debated include The Bilingual School Hsin- ly with other deletes Arabic MUN is an Question of Unmanned chu—Science Park has from schools in the been sending young U.S, India, and Afghan- initiative that aims to Aerial Vehicles, Eval- delegates to jrO-MUN istan just to name a develop young Arabs uating the efficiency of debates for the past two few. The group’s orga- express their ideas in the Arab League, and years and asa result nizers are friendly and their mother tongue. It Combatting religious I’ve seen interest and run a well-structured also allows youth who intolerance. participation in our program, which helps are amazing leaders to middle school MUN relieve much of the club increase dramati- burden from MUN di- join MUN which pre- Personally, I am look- cally. rectors, as they do the viously they couldn’t ing forward for the majority of the work. participate in due to debates on combatting Few opportunities in Based onmy positive the language barrier. religious intolerance Taiwan exist for middle experience with jrO- as most delegates will school students to par- MUN, I would highly As a previous Arabic have strong views on ticipate in face-to-face encourage any curious MUN conferences and MUN directors to get committee delegate the issue. I have high coming from a pub- their students involved before I can say that hopes for the Special lic school, most ofmy and discover benefits it’s truly unique and Regional Committee students don’t have the ofjrO-MUN on your somehow much more on the Middle East and means to travel to in- Middle School MUN fun than english MUN North Africa and I am ternational conferences program. but also a lot more super excited for it! off the island. While searching for online de- difficult which makes Page 4 ISSUE III VOLUME VIIIIXXVI DecemberJanuary September November 2016 2015 2015 2015 ONLINE ONLINE ONLINEONLINE EDITION EDITION EDITION EDITION MISMUN Qatar – Not just a training conference... By Barakah Bilal Moti, Head their MUN careers and finding comfort zone and delivers a overall. With small entertainment Chair of GA6 at MISMUN ways to build their confidence speech. With about ¾ of GA6 sittings in committee rooms, in front a larger group of peo- initially not wanting to break followed by a humorous directors On the 4th of December 2015, ple by speaking about issues the silence, my co-chairs and I debate and fruitful committee Messaieed International School currently on the UN’s agenda. were able to make every delegate sessions, MISMUN gave joy to hosted its second Model United Furthermore, for the first time speak a number of times as the every participant. Although MUN Nations, aiming at both high ever, MISMUN also organized conference progressed. Shy and is undeniably hard, it did not deter school and middle school a director’s debate, chaired vulnerable delegates, aged only 11 students starting their MUN ca- students. The ultimate goal of by the Secretary General and years old were able to speak their reers but encourages them further. the conference was to, “to be President of the conference. minds, surely made every partic- Hands off to the Secretary General, even bigger and better than This debate was “hilarious” as ipant realize their ability to make Hanna Moazam and the respective ever before, while maintaining quoted by Mrs. Lisa Martin, the changes if only they decide to do executive team for pulling together the positive ethos of the first Head of THIMUN Qatar, which so. Similarly, other committees such an enjoyable conference. The conference”. Without a doubt, shows that the conference was have illustrated a similar progress, goal was certainly achieved, to the conference had an excellent enjoyable for both, students which indeed concludes that the make MISMUN better than before start and finished strong. MIS- and teachers. conference was a great initiative and to give what they delegates MUN was a successful one-day in preparing delegates for future needed, a boost in their confi- conference that embodied the Personally speaking, as the conferences. dence and self-esteem for future theme of “Breaking Taboos”, Head Chair of GA6, I was MUN conferences. Until next time in which issues on the agenda concerned about the quality of MISMUN was a great conference MISMUN! revolved around this idea. A debate in committee rooms. short but sweet training confer- With only a few experienced ence, left delegates with a boost delegates and a majority of in their confidence, challenged first time delegates who were chairs to put forth their leader- clueless of the process, it was a ship skills and left all partici- challenge to use my power as a pants with lasting memories. chair to motivate delegates and invoke their ability to come up Successful is an understate- with radical solutions. I must ment. With only 2-3 schools say, with a number of dele- participating in MISMUN in gates openly telling the chairs 2014, this years MISMUN that they were introverts and broke through with 12 par- extremely nervous to speak, did ticipating schools, where and extremely nervous to speak, students took on the role as did not let us down one bit. It ac- either delegates or chairs. tually encouraged the chairs to use Additionally, MISMUN had 10 their leadership skills in making committees in total, with about sure that debate in the committee 20-25 delegates in each forum. was qualitative. As a head chair, I Since MISMUN was a training was able to speak to every delegate conference, more delegates individually, making sure that were first-timers, just starting everyone steps out of their MSMUN-Q 2016 Preparations Underway By: Aliyaa Haji, Deputy Secretary General of MSMUNQ 2016 new student officers. With this balance, MSMUNQ will surely be an effective learning environment for not only our As we commence into a further step into the realm of younger delegates but newcomers into our student officer MSMUNQ, my fellow executive members and I have been team. Our student officers come from schools such as Qatar profoundly excited in choosing the topics for this learn- Academy, American School of Doha, DPS, Mesaieed Inter- ing-based conference. The theme of this year’s conference is national School, and Doha College. As we come closer to Safety and Security, which has brought up topics including MSMUNQ, the opportunities and vision of a better learning “the protection of Syrian refugees”, “measures to protect environment for students interested in MUN and gaining teenagers from online harassment and abuse” and “com- further skills from it is becoming a reality! We look forward bating plastic pollution in oceans”. The number of topics to working with middle school programs in the region to for this year’s MSMUNQ deals with the question of refu- build the best MSMUN-Q yet! gees and combating terrorism, as well as cyber surveillance including many others in our eight committees. We are To check out the full list of student officers for MSMUN-Q, sure these topics will intrigue our middle school delegation please check out our website: http://thimunqatarpress.org/ into a heated debate and encourage them to write effective programs/middle-school-mun/msmun-q-2016-leadership- resolutions. and-officer-team/

These topics will be scrutinized by our fellow Student Officers. In this year’s MSMUNQ, being a student officer was an opportunity for younger students to gain experience in chairing. Having a good number of experienced chairs alongside new chairs will be a profound opportunity for Page 5 ISSUE III VOLUME VIVIIIIXX DecemberJanuary September November 2016 2015 2015 2015 ONLINE ONLINE ONLINEONLINE EDITION EDITION EDITION EDITION OMUN ECOSOC Debate By Irene Ann Promodh, OMUN Delegate, Dubai, UAE arguments seemed to veer slightly out of control due to a country’s fervent outcry for an amendment, the overseeing The atmosphere bubbled with intense fervor as the Uni- moderator reinforced order, and understanding amongst versal Coordinated Time ticked closer to the end of the the various nations was restored in mere moments. much awaited ECOSOC debate. Though we comprised of nations spread across the wide expanse of the globe, we The ECOSOC debate was indeed one of the greatest suc- weresubconsciously electrified as a single body of future cesses in OMUN’s debate history as we not only learnt world-changers. Cultural barriers lay strewn on the fore- the importance of acting as global citizens to effect social front of the O-MUN field. Ethnic or religious differences changes, but we also discovered the true essence of lead- crumbled to dust as appointed delegates from the seeming- ership and cooperation in a world marked by terror and ly insignificant country of Lithuania to the global Ameri- chaos. Although the debate was held in a virtual online can superpower joined hands to combat the issues facing room, in my humble opinion, it represented the beginning young men struggling to find employment in post-conflict of something greater in a physical sense. If young individ- environments. uals from countries located on every corner of the globe could reach a final and satisfactory agreement after an As the delegate of Ghana, I received the opportunity to elapsed time period of two hours, how much more are we declare my country’s economic and social concerns which capable of in an era when time is indefinite and undefined? were apparently quite different to those of the other more If young minds could collaborate with each other in a developed nations. Due to Ghana’s long-standing history virtual setting to produce a document containing the ideas of tribal conflict and cyclical patterns of deprivation, the of twenty different nations, how much more can we, the country has experienced the worst situations of stagna- leaders of tomorrow, create a global movement towards tion in terms of unemployment and poor living standards. peace and international security? The other countries realized this potential issue and the relevance of the debate question in our modern societies. In conclusion, OMUN is more than a mere outlet to raise Consequently, the OMUN delegates cooperated as a team awareness of a social problem; it is a symbol of the poten- of a multitude of colors, gradually yet inevitably editing the tial that “inexperienced” high-schoolers or college students original resolution to suit the needs of all the UN nations have to initiate a global revolution in favor of collaboration as a whole. The perfect balance between arguing for poten- between formerly rival nations. However, such an ambi- tial amendments and supporting existing relevant clauses tion requires time to manifest itself into reality. But if we, prompted me to ponder on the intricate harmony that ex- the delegates of OMUN, continue to produce answers to ists in society as the two opposing groups ironically acted the world’s toughest questions, I am sufficiently confident as one body designed to create a final resolution of perfect that, in the near future, there will not be any hurdle that sympathy for both factions involved. Moreover, when we cannot overcome TOGETHER. Building communities...one MUN club at a time (Continuation from Page 1) Club and the person who first envisioned bringing Sri this trip we can show all Lankan students to THI- people of the world our MUN Qatar. “I felt it was talent, our leadership skills, time to provide students in and our abilities. If we are Sri Lanka with more oppor- trying and if we are facing tunities to flourish outside difficulties -- if there is no the classroom. I just wanted pain, there is no gain. This to share one of the most trip is going to be a high- amazing experiences I have light of our lives and we had as student with them, Chris continues “I think of our visiting delegates should acquire achieve- and that was MUN. Seeing that bringing Model view THIMUN Qatar 2016, ment for our country and the Afghan delegation the United Nations to more something Mursal made our organization (HELA).” previous year inspired me to students like this is extre clear in her comments. “Af- take action to make this idea ghanistan is a country living The impact of a first MUN happen. MUN helps connect mely important because of in conflict; at this time our conference can’t be over- the world, and it’s so excit- the skills the activity de- country needs leaders, real stated, but for an opportu- ing to see another delega- velops. The diplomatic and leaders, that will take Af- nity to travel overseas and tion having the opportunity social skills, as well as the ghanistan toward a peace- be a part of an international to benefit from MUN and research and public speak- ful country far away from conference of this scale, make a change.” ing skills learned through war. Through joining this well, that isn’t lost on the MUN are absolutely invalu- conference Afghan youth mentors, who see this as an “Mentoring a delegation of able, so I’m honoured to be will develop international unprecedented opportunity homeschooled students in a part of bringing them to communication with world’s for their mentees. “Qatar MUN and bringing them to homeschooled delegates in youth; they can show their Academy has been working THIMUN paves the way for Qatar.” talent to world! This confer- with the Eravur community the popularization of Model Most serious MUN dele- ence will help them to raise in Sri Lanka for a long time, United Nations among gates understand the what their level of knowledge. and we have helped build homeschooled students in they get out of MUN, from This conference means a a sister school in Sri Lan- Qatar, and for them to be the social to the academic, lot for Afghan youth and ka.” Shared Vaidehi Vish, a able to host an MUN club but it’s good to be reminded for the HELA organization. member of the QA Action independent of a school.” just how important some This will help Afghanistan Page 6 ISSUE III VOLUME VIIIIXXVI DecemberJanuary September November 2016 2015 2015 2015 ONLINE ONLINE ONLINEONLINE EDITION EDITION EDITION EDITION Park House English School Successfully Hosts Model United Nations Conference (PHESMUN) Park House English Members of the Execu- School, one of Qatar’s tive Committee trained oldest and most pres- new members as well as tigious British schools, the participating Park hosted the PHESMUN House delegates. Conference on Sat- urday, November 21. Mr. Dougie Smith, More than 230 dele- Headmaster of Park gates, including 90 stu- House English School, dents from Park House, said: “We are extremely participated in the con- proud to have hosted ference. Doha College, PHESMUN. The partic- Qatar International ipating delegates made School, Dukhan English this such an exciting School, Al-Khor Inter- and interesting event national School, English filled with intellectual Modern School and Al debates, lively discus- Jazeera Academy all sions and thought-pro- participated along with voking insight. MUN seven students from the is a great initiative Doha Home Educators, that teaches students a homeschooling pro- a range of skills in- gramme. Park House cluding diplomacy, has a rich history in research, public speak- participating in MUN ing, debating, writing, conferences through- critical thinking and out the country with team work, along with highlights being the developing leadership Doha College MUN VIII abilities, their under- earlier this month as standing of internation- well as the Qatar MUN al relations and the role and Film Leadership of the UN.” Conference 2015. Major highlights during During PHESMUN, PHESMUN included a all delegates worked live press conference hard on preparing their simulation hosted by research and presenting Laura Kyle, Principal on issues related to the Presenter, News Read- theme of The Millenni- er and International um Development Goals. Correspondent, and Apart from extensive Tom Nicholson, a cam- research, delegates also eraman, both from Al conducted a number Jazeera English News of debates on topics Channel. Students including “The ques- were placed under the tion of regulating in- spotlight and answered formal employment”, hard hitting questions “Addressing the role as Ambassadors of their of cultural beliefs in assigned countries. Mr. acquisition of health- Issa Mohamed Al-Ish- care”, “Targeting social aq, the Administration and cultural differences and Finance Manager when combating bi- of Qatar Red Crescent, lateral tensions” and was the keynote speak- “Measures to reduce er during the Opening carbon emissions”. Ceremony. Page 7 ISSUE III VOLUME VIIXX DecemberJanuary September 2016 2015 2015 ONLINE ONLINEONLINE EDITION EDITION EDITION

MISMUN’s Secretary General reflects on MUN By Hanna Moazam, MISMUN Secretary General One of our main focuses this year is creating opportunity. With non-member delegations, trainee chairs and Cocaine, crack, heroin … MUN. All these things have Arab League, we have widened the reach of MUN, and one thing in common. They’re addictive. The more you thus created an incredibly diverse conference. get the more you want. In all the hype around student empowerment in MUN, My own first conference experience was simply ter- the teachers and adults who volunteer so much of their rifying, as a delegate in GA5 in THIMUN Qatar. The time and effort are often sidelined and forgotten until first day left me in tears. There were so many people they chaperone us into buses at the end of the day. who seemed to know so much more than me and who At MISMUN however, we’ll be giving the directors a refused to listen to my perfectly valid arguments, and hands-on MUN experience, debating a topic that is I was completely unaccustomed to being contradicted one of the biggest taboos and is guaranteed to spark and ignored. But over the next few days, as our former fiery arguments: “The issue of the rights of expats in director Ms. Falck predicted, I caught the ‘MUN bug’, the Middle East, with focus on Qatar”. and since then have been a passionate MUNner. Last but not the least, we have the honour of welcom- After MISMUN 2015, you are guaranteed to likewise ing Michelle Wu, an IT leader at General Electric, as be hooked and eager for more. With the innovative our keynote speaker on ‘Breaking Taboos’, a topic that theme of ‘Breaking Taboos’, we plan on providing every is very near to her own personal success story. Her sto- single one of the 300 people involved with an unforget- ry will inspire and motivate, and put into context the table experience. importance of conferences such as MISMUN which MISMUN is a platform which provides students with provide us with the opportunity to learn so many of the opportunity to bring a novel, youthful perspective the skills that are necessary for survival in the real to issues such as the spread of ISIS; the question of the world. sustainability of aid to LEDCs and the issue of geneti- cally modified organisms, among others. By debating “Progress is impossible without change, and those who such topics, we consider not only the controversies cannot change their minds cannot change anything” and policies surrounding real world decisions, but also – George Bernard Shaw. question many of society’s deeply ingrained percep- tions, and force the delegates to take into account a variety of viewpoints.

Page 8 ISSUE III VOLUME XVI January September 2016 2015 ONLINEONLINE EDITION EDITION Maverick Youth

Interview with Bassim such as web hosting. As we Alia – O-MUN has success- ships and meet new people, Eledath, with contributions receive more and more web- fully established a global being connected to diverse from MY staff writer, Alia site traffic, the cost increas- community of youth from youth from all around the El Kattan es. As of now, I am using different backgrounds who world opens your mind my pocket money to finance are opinionated and pro- towards new perspectives When was MY founded? these costs. However, owing active leaders in their own and expands your knowl- to the recent success of our different ways. That way, the edge. It also provides great Maverick Youth was found- merchandise sale for charity, O-MUN community was opportunities for leadership, ed on September 18th, 2014 the marketing team of MY what Maverick Youth was especially with communities is planning to sell more looking for–the brightest which are primarily youth- Are you the sole founder? merchandise items and a minds around the world led such as MY or O-MUN. portion of the profits will be who have their distinct per- Yes, but we have a large used for future expenses. spectives. Thus a lot of our How can we get more au- team that manages the members are a part of the thentic student writing out website. How many writers did you O-MUN community too. of individuals? How does start with and how many MY play into that discus- Why did you decide to do you have now? What observations can sion? launch Maverik Youth? you make on the degree We started with only 6 of comfort/acceptance I would change the undue The idea came to me in the writers. Like most startups, that young people find in importance given to objec- summer of 2014. I was the we had a shaky start. I was online communities, and in tiveness over creativity. It’s Press & Publications Offi- told MY would not hold building their own organic not about the curriculum cer at O-MUN and I was strong and that “teenagers communities? being impractical or not. in charge of the website’s only click a link if it’s from That doesn’t matter. Whether blog. Seeing as there were Buzzfeed”. In fact, a strong Alia – In online communi- it’s history, biology or chem- so many young people from critic of the website posted ties like O-MUN or Mav- istry–you will eventually around the world who want- 10 reasons why MY would erick Youth, there’s usually forget the facts and figures. ed to submit their writing, fail on his Facebook time- a common understanding Testing, as a result, should I saw it is an opportunity to line. But looking back, those that people want to commu- be focused more on thinking start a publication dedicated disheartening comments nicate, make new friends, and not rote learning. When to voicing the opinions of are what pushed our team and connect with different students are made to answer the youth. I wanted to create and we are now stronger people. As a result, you find questions that don’t solely a publication that valued than ever. We are an official that students are a lot more rely on what they already the writers as much as the publication on Apple News comfortable adding people know, it exercises their readers (in other words, with nine regional branches on Facebook and starting minds to push their mental not a click-bait). Over the spanning 6 continents and conversations with people boundaries. A school that many months we’ve been in we have 100+ writers. they’ve never met. The on- focuses on ‘how’ they teach operation, we’ve had articles line community we’re a part rather than ‘what’ they teach on social issues like gender How large is your reader- of already acts as a common is an institution that fosters inequality, economic prob- ship? If you know, how do interest and as assurance true learning. lems like the plummeting of you know? that other members of the oil prices, impact stories like community would be ac- At MY we have a saying–‘We the one on Farhad (the story According to Google Ana- cepting and welcoming, thus give you the platform and of an individual who fled lytics, we have viewers from allowing young people to get you make the difference’. The Afghanistan) and topics that more than 150 countries. out of their comfort zones reason why we have so many were simply out of the blue, According to WordPress, we and interact with new peo- writers who write for free is like the article on Mean receive on average 100-300 ple, building many overseas because of our global reach. Girls. That’s the beauty of page-views a day. There is a friendships. They have something to say MY—you can express your lot of variation in this data. and they want to be heard. opinions on absolutely On some days we receive What are educators missing This invariably promotes anything at all. Every article as little as 50 page-views, about the power of con- authentic writing. By giving offers the reader a fresh and on others, we receive nected youth communities? a platform bereft of any perspective—the young more than 2,000 page-views limitations on expression, I perspective. (when a popular article is Alia’s answer – There’s believe we play a powerful published). definitely undeniable edu- role in that regard. Are there any costs associ- cational benefits that come ated with MY and how do How did the OMUN from the exposure being in For more information on you fund that? network contribute to the an online youth community Maverick Youth, please visit global scale of MY? provides. Aside from the their website at http://www. Yes there are minor costs opportunity to create friend- maverickyouth.com/. Page 9 ISSUE III VOLUME VIIXX DecemberJanuary September 2016 2015 2015 ONLINE ONLINEONLINE EDITION EDITION EDITION Last Call: THIMUN Qatar Northwestern Film Festival deadline approaching The THIMUN Qatar Northwestern To view past submissions from the Film Festival deadline is approach- festival visit our YouTube page- ing. Please Remember to submit your films using the following link: https://www.youtube.com/user/THI- MUNQatarFilmFest http://tqnfilmfestival.com/. -and also stay tuned to our Facebook The portal is still open. A reminder page for any updates: that you will not be able to submit your films after February 10th 2016. https://www.facebook.com/THI- MUNQatarNorthwesternFilmFesti- val/

Page 10 ISSUE III VOLUME VIIIIXXVI DecemberJanuary September November 2016 2015 2015 2015 ONLINE ONLINE ONLINEONLINE EDITION EDITION EDITION EDITION

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