The importance of
The South African Model United Nations Debating Conferences
The South African Model United Nations (SAMUN) debating conferences are based on the principles and format of a UN General Assembly debate, with a focus on the United Nations, global issues, international relations and human rights issues.
The conferences were first held in 1995 as part of the United Nations’ 50th anniversary celebrations. The 1995 group of debaters accompanied former President Nelson Mandela on his trip to New York for
the UN celebrations. Although the event was run at the time by the National Ministry of Education, Education Africa was called in by the then Minister of Education, Professor Sibusiso Bengu, to assist with
the project. It was a resounding success, giving South African learners a life-changing experience.
In 1998, Education Africa revived the debating conferences for South African high schools. For the past decade, the SAMUN debating conferences have united disadvantaged and advantaged learners from
all nine provinces of South Africa, and have been run successfully at provincial, national and international levels. Today, over 500 South African high schools from diverse backgrounds participate in this
programme on an annual basis.
Blue Ribbon Award
The SAMUN is the only truly internationally recognised national Model UN debating conference. Education Africa USA received a United Nations Blue Ribbon Award on behalf of Education Africa, in Washington DC, October 2000, for programme excellence in furthering the ideals of the United Nations.
|
Unique structure of the SAMUN teams: the twinning of resourced and under-resourced schools
The General Assembly democratic process forms a vital part of the debating criteria, and this commitment to democratic processes is carried through to the formation of teams.
Each South African team of four learners consists of a partnership of schools: two learners from a resourced school and two from an under-resourced school, as well as an educator from each school.
This combination is distinct from any other Model UN conference in that it:
- promotes cross-cultural exchange;
- encourages tolerance and peace between the learners; and
- gives disadvantaged learners the opportunity to compete on an equal footing, as they have access to research resources through their partner school.
|
