UN teen reps on top of the world

BY JESSIE COLQUHOUN

For teenagers Emily Wu and Matthew Dobbs discussing the world’s problems and how to solve them is no big deal.

The pair are part of a 14- member team from New Zealand travelling to The Hague International Model United Nations in the Netherlands next January.

The youth conference brings together 3800 secondary students from all over the world to discuss and debate world issues such as the recession, AIDS and global education.

Each team represents a different country and adopts its stance on topics.

In the past, New Zealand has represented countries as diverse as Ireland, Bangladesh and Tuvalu.

Emily, from Remuera, and Matthew, from Parnell, were selected for the New Zealand team after being selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools delegation in July.

Attending the conference gives students an education they could never get in a classroom.

Matthew, a year 13 student at King’s College, says taking part really opened his eyes.

"It gives you a different perspective on things that you wouldn’t normally think about."

Pupils find out what country they will represent in October and will start researching its political stance on topics.

Before arriving in the Netherlands the team will take a study tour for 10 days to meet with diplomats to help with their research.

In the future Emily and Matthew want to keep being involved with the United Nations conference.

Emily, a year 12 student, will lead the programme at Epsom Girls Grammar School next year and Matthew will visit King’s College to promote the experience to other students.

He plans to go to university next year and says the experience has inspired him to take politics papers.

For now both students are busy studying for exams and have taken on part-time jobs to help fund the three-week trip.

They have had trouble finding sponsorship because the organisation isn’t recognised as a charity, even though it is non-profit.

Matthew says having a job on top of schoolwork and being captain of the rowing team will be hard work.

"But it’s all worth it at the end of the day. This is a once in a lifetime trip."

– Jessie Colquhoun is an AUT journalism student

- © Fairfax NZ News