EA Model United Nations attracts more than 800 students

Nairobi, 5 March 2001-- A total of 850 students from 28 schools in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Bangladesh gathered at the United Natios complex in Gigiri, Nairobi, for this year’s East African Model United Nations conference, beginning Wednesday.

There will be about 700 student delegates at the four-day conference, representing about 130 UN member states, in which global issues and problems will be discussed. Debates by various UN committees will proceed the General Assembly debate, which will open and run all day Friday and Saturday.

The conference is one of the numerous model United Nations held worldwide in which high school and college students exchange information and share experiences in an authentic simulation of the United Nations General Assembly, Security Council, and the various UN committees.

The students engage in the world of diplomacy and negotiations, exchanging ideas and sharing experiences in tackling global problems such peace and security, poverty, globalization, economic development and health issues such as HIV/AIDS.

The idea of a model United Nations started shortly after the United Nations and has become so popular over the years that today more than 200,000 high school and college students around the world participate in model United Nations each year. Some of the model United Nations are regional or international, such as the East African Model United Nations (EAMUN).

Over the years, participants in EAMUN have come from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritius and Bangladesh, representing more than 130 countries. More than 800 students participate in the EAMUN.

For more information, contact Irene Mwakesi e-mail: Irene.Mwakesi@unep.org