75 young people from eight Stockport secondary schools took part in a mock United Nations (UN) debate.
The event, organised by Stockport Council’s Ethnic Diversity Service and the University of Manchester, featured a mock UN General Assembly debating the topic ‘Weapons of War’ in Stockport Town Hall’s Council Chamber.
The Year 9 students gave opening speeches, debated landmines, nuclear weapons, and chemical weapons, and worked together to write a resolution which they voted upon and passed.
The debate was the culmination of three months preparation. Eighteen 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.
The judges, who included Dr Eleanor Davey from the University of Manchester, Phil Beswick, Stockport Council’s Director of Education Services and Councillor Shan Alexander, Stockport Council’s Executive Member for Lifelong Learning and Achievement, gave out awards to ‘delegates’ and ‘diplomats’ for outstanding team work and individual efforts.
Councillor Shan 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 Bramhall, Stockport School, Marple Hall, Priestnall, St. James, St. Anne’s, Hazel Grove and Kingsway.