This year, Holy Name Convent proudly participated in the 2025 Model United Nations programme (MUN), where four students, Rene Ramcharan, Janae Ettienne, Mya Cox and Kiona Phillip represented Barbados, Australia, Panama and New Zealand, respectively. For many, MUN was more than just debates; it was a transformative journey into global issues, leadership, and personal growth.
Stepping into Diplomacy
Walking into a room filled with confident speakers and well-prepared delegates from across the country was intimidating at first. Many of our students felt nervous, unsure and even out of place. For some, MUN was their very first encounter with formal debate, global policy, or diplomatic negotiations.
However, week by week, something shifted as delegates learned to research, analyse and engage with international issues from their assigned country’s perspective, the purpose of the program became clearer. MUN wasn’t simply about public speaking; it was about learning to consider the world beyond ourselves.
The preparation process
Preparation looked different for every delegate. Some juggled tight schedules, squeezing research and writing between school responsibilities. Others spent hours diving into foreign policies, United Nations relations, and real-world conflicts to craft strong position papers.
Whether the process was smooth or challenging, each delegate discovered the value of discipline, teamwork and representing a nation authentically, even when its policies did not align with their beliefs.
How MUN Shaped us
By the final weeks, the growth among our delegates was undeniable.MUN taught them to stay composed under pressure, articulate ideas with clarity, and collaborate even when opinions clashed co-representatives learned to compromise and support each other, especially on days when one couldn’t manage the workload alone.
Beyond skills, the programme inspired a deeper awareness of global affairs. Students who once avoided the news found themselves suddenly invested, realising that understanding the world is key to creating change within it.
Representing our Nations
Some delegates received a country they initially knew nothing about, but that unfamiliarity became a powerful lesson. The primary lesson is that diplomacy requires stepping outside of personal beliefs and embracing perspectives that differ from your own. Through this experience students learned that real leadership requires humility, adaptability and courage
Words of Wisdom
One message echoed strongly among our delegates this year:
“Take the opportunity even if you don’t feel qualified. Sometimes the experience is meant to shape you, strengthen you, or connect you to someone you’re meant to impact”.
And as one delegate beautifully put it:
“And in order for change to happen, it must begin with you”
Written By: Mya Cox
Photos Provided By: Mya Cox