During the last week of January, St. Paul’s pupils had a unique opportunity to participate in a Model United Nations conference in The Netherlands. Amongst the pupils, there was one of our scholars, Gregório, who shared more about his experience, which was also his first international trip ever.
The 55th Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) is a Model United Nations conference that happens in the Netherlands annually. A truly international event, this is the biggest MUN conference in Europe, attracting over 3,200 delegates and teachers from around 200 schools coming from Iceland to Dubai. Such is the profile of THIMUN that in previous years the conference has been attended by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and many members of the Dutch royal family. Model UN is one of the most popular enrichments in St. Paul’s.
Gregório said that “this journey to the Netherlands meant and brought me much more than just a MUN conference. It was an absolute pleasure to get to know a different culture, learn a little bit of a new language and meet people from everywhere – Russia, Morocco, Norway, Spain, Argentina, Germany and Uzbekistan.”
This experience made him “a more open-minded and critical individual, an individual with more conscience about other cultures, languages, customs, religious beliefs and even cuisines.” He feels as though “I would not have been able to have any of these fantastic experiences if it wasn’t for the support I received from the school and the Foundation. This type of experience is only possible here, in this institution, that allows their students to discover the world by themselves”.
Mr Luis Souza, teacher and leader of MUN at St. Paul’s, affirms that “Such experiences are invaluable for young people as they help broaden their perspectives and develop their interpersonal skills. Gregorio’s participation in this program will have a lasting impact on his personal and academic growth and nurturing relationships within the school.” He also hopes that more scholars will follow in his footsteps.
Read more about Gregório’s experience below:
Gregório at the 55º THIMUN
During the last week of January, I had the immense pleasure of having my first international trip. The purpose of the trip was to take part in the 55th The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN), however, this journey to the Netherlands meant and brought me much more than just an MUN conference.
Seeing the world with my own eyes for the first time was wonderful, I have no words to describe the sensations I felt and the experiences I lived during the journey. It was an absolute pleasure to get to know a different culture, learn a little bit of a new language and meet people from everywhere around the world. I met people from Russia, Morocco, Norway, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Uzbekistan and many other places that will not fit in this space. The language, cultural and social acquisition during this trip cannot be measured, it is something that everyone should be able to experience at least once during their academic lives.
The THIMUN experience made me a more open-minded and critical individual, an individual that has more conscience about other cultures, languages, customs, religious beliefs and even cuisines. I would not have been able to have any of these fantastic experiences if it wasn’t for the support that I received both from the school and the Foundation. This is the type of experience that is only possible here, in this institution, that allows their students to discover the world by themselves, that develops not only future workers, but future global citizens.
