YOUNG PEOPLE TAKE PART IN MODEL UNITED NATIONS DEBATE

Over 60 young people from seven Stockport secondary schools took part in a Model United Nations (MUN) debate.

The event, organised by Stockport Council’s Ethnic Diversity Service and the University of Manchester, featured a Model UN General Assembly debating the topic ‘Freedom of Expression’ in Stockport Town Hall’s Council Chamber.

                         Stockport students taking part in the Model United Nations Event

The Year 9 students gave opening speeches, debated the motion, and worked together to write a resolution which they voted upon and passed.

The debate was the culmination of three months preparation. Sixteen countries around the world were represented by teams of four students from different schools.  The teams were mentored by postgraduate students at Manchester University’s Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute who helped them research their country and topic for debate. 

Professor Peter Gatrell from the University of Manchester, chaired the debate, supported by Dr Joyce Miller from the Schools Linking Network as ‘Secretary-General’, and Nicole Hand from the Ethnic Diversity Service as vice-chair.

The judges who included Professor Bertrand Tithe from the University of Manchester, Councillor Shan Alexander, Executive Member for Children & Young People, and Richard Bates, Service Director for Education, gave out awards to ‘delegates’ and ‘diplomats’ for outstanding team work and individual efforts.   

Cllr Alexander said:

“The day showed the qualities of the young people in our schools; their commitment, engagement, enthusiasm and contribution to the debate about freedom of speech was exemplary and the high level of public speaking was extraordinary. They brought immense credit to their schools, teachers and colleagues from the University of Manchester who oversaw the project. Well done to everyone concerned.”

The Model United Nations supports young people to develop life-skills such as critical thinking, decision making, active citizenship, research, conflict resolution, communication and negotiation.   By working in mixed-school teams with students from other schools, and working with a postgraduate student mentor, the young people have the opportunity to meet new people and build new relationships with other young people in Stockport.

The Stockport schools taking part were Stockport School, Priestnall, St. James Catholic High, Hazel Grove High, St. Anne’s RC High, Marple Hall, and Reddish Vale Technology College.