Ten students from Tallinn German Gymnasium participated in Alster Model United Nations, in Hamburg from 9 –12 October. 

Alster Model United Nations (AMUN) is an international Model United Nations conference hosted by Gymnasium Klosterschule in Hamburg. This year marked the school's first time organizing AMUN since the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference was centered around the theme: "Building Bridges: Finding Sustainable Solutions to Conflicts in a Fragmented World."

The project officially commenced in Hamburg on Wednesday, October 9th, with an opening ceremony. During the event, the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary Generals, and the Conference Managers extended their warm welcomes to the participants. A key highlight of the ceremony was the delivery of ambassador speeches, where representatives from various delegations addressed the audience. Our delegation proudly contributed with seven ambassadors presenting their speeches. 

Once the opening ceremony concluded, each delegate proceeded to their assigned committee. Our delegation was allocated to the following committees: HRC, GA1, and GA4. Throughout the day, lobbying sessions were held within the committees and continued until the end of the day. Following the lobbying activities, a mandatory social event took place, providing an excellent opportunity for delegations to interact and learn more about one another. Following the social event, our delegation proceeded to a restaurant to enjoy a pleasant dinner together.

On Thursday, 10 October, the day began with committee sessions, where delegates sought allies to collaborate on drafting resolutions. Once alliances were successfully formed, the resolution-writing process got underway, sparking some early spirited discussions. After the AMUN directors reviewed the resolutions, the debates officially began. Numerous engaging and productive debates took place, accompanied by the implementation of several humorous penalties, as noted by AMUN. This structured routine continued seamlessly until the end of the day.

On Friday, 11 October, the day began similarly to the previous day, with committees in session. Subsequently, all participants, except those in the HRC, CSW, and Security Council, gathered in the Assembly Hall for the General Assembly. Following the conclusion of the General Assembly, a brief lunch break was held, after which the closing ceremony began. The President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-Generals, and the Conference Managers expressed their gratitude to everyone for making the conference a success. During the ceremony, each committee took turns going up on stage to receive their participation certificates. The ceremony featured a humorous recap video created by the social media team, adding a lighthearted touch to the event. As this marked our final day in Hamburg, we took the opportunity to visit the city center for sightseeing, making up for the packed conference schedule that had left little time for exploration earlier. 

During the three days spent in Hamburg, each of us gained a deeper understanding of how the UN functions. However, more importantly, we formed friendships that will last a lifetime.

Text by Sandra Kreim

From our school participated: Sandra Kreim, Kasandra Tabri, Marika Kilchitskaja, Gretel Kirikal, Hanna Lotta Kivi, Richard Keler, Daria Ruus, Angelina Loomus,  Toomas Pertel, Laur Erik Kivihall.

Teachers: Jan Zünkler and Mariia Shelckova