"I am doing what I can" a Model UN approach to solving world problems

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945. The UN has evolved over the years to keep pace with a rapidly changing world. The goal of the group is to be the one place on Earth where all the world’s nations can gather together, discuss common problems, and find shared solutions that benefit all of humanity. At the high school level, Model UN is a simulation of the UN General Assembly and its other multilateral bodies where students perform an ambassador role while debating topics such as gender equality, climate action, global health, and more.

At MHS there are two Model UN groups that students are encouraged to join. 

The first being taught by Mrs. Hilbrant. She teaches the Model UN class, where they heavily focus on current events and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations. A few of the sustainable development goals are no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, gender equality, and clean water and sanitation. 

The UN has evolved over the years to keep pace with a rapidly changing world.

The second is the Model UN Club, coordinated by Mr. Smith. The club travels to compete in mock sessions of problem solving by representing points of view of all countries in the world. 

Tyler Lucas, a Senior, has been a part of Model UN for three years and says that the size and interest of the club has decreased. It has become a goal for them to get their word spread throughout the student body.

“Now, the class has steadily decreased in size because of a lack of awareness. Nobody knows it exists! That was one of the senior goals in Model UN this year: to get freshmen excited about what is going on outside of school," said Tyler.

One unique thing about this group is that they are interested in bettering themselves as a human, even outside the club. 

“The beautiful thing about our club is that we all actively try to better ourselves in the interest of the group,” Tyler continued.

Students who are also interested in politics, geography, meeting new people from all over the world, doing research and or give speeches, would thrive in this environment. Students learn basic argument and writing skills that further their abilities and allows them to have skills to help them in future.

“In New York this year, we encountered a couple thousand people from 51 different countries. These are students from various backgrounds. You come to agreement as young leaders, no matter your own political beliefs,” said Tyler. 

The Model UN class’s most recent project was “The Water Project”, part of an international #GOALS project worldwide. This project took place over classrooms all over the world, carrying out a project for their assigned target goal. The Model UN class was assigned SDG #6 which is clean water and sanitation for all. A SDG is the acronym for Sustainable Development Goals

The club raised money for water.org, a non-profit group who provides micro-loans to people lacking water and sanitation. 

“We were able to focus on some targets that meant a lot to our class. In areas lacking clean water, it is often girls and women who have to walk miles to carry it home, this lessens the chances of women moving up in the work world, and girls getting equal education. In areas lacking sanitation, people are affected by disease carried in human waste, and it causes all types of new healthcare concerns which could be eradicated with sanitary facilities,” said Mrs. Hilbrant. 

Mrs. Hilbrant also says that they knew they could not solve the world water crisis, so they decided to focus on a powerful, Peruvian folktale that goes like this:

One day there was a major fire in the forest and all the animals gathered at the edge saddened by the loss of their home. 

As they stood helpless, they noticed the hummingbird flying frantically back and forth dropping tiny beakfulls of water on the fire

One asked the bird, "what are you doing?"

The bird answered, "I am doing what I can"

The club gave the hummingbird stickers to anyone who donated, they raised $200 to donate to water.org, but doing what you can and participating as a world citizen to make a greater impact is a huge part of what this group advocates for. 

Although the group is no longer taking donations, you can personally donate at water.org and learn more about their message and how you can help. 

“While we will not solve the world water crisis with a single donation or fundraiser, if we all do what we can, there will be an impact,” said Mrs. Hilbrant.