By Hassan Cheruppa

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH – Delegates of Al Khozama International School, Dammam emerged as winners in the 8th soul-stirring Model United Nations (B.E.S.T MUN) Conference hosted by New Al Wurood International School (NAWIS), Jeddah recently. Al Yasmin International School, Riyadh was the first runner-up while the Girls’ Section of NAWIS Jeddah became the second runner-up.

Assistant Professor and Acting Dean of Effat College of Engineering, Jeddah Dr. Akila Sarirete, the chief guest, officially inaugurated the session. She lauded the great efforts of NAWIS for giving the students such a global platform with the hosting of MUN. B.E.S.T stands for Bridgeway Educational Systems and Training Services.

The annual event was a befitting global platform that enhanced a multitude of 21st century skills in students besides training them in detailed research to stay abreast with international affairs. Ten teams from eight schools across Saudi Arabia enthusiastically took part in the conference themed ‘Working together for a better tomorrow’. The students represented Indonesia, Japan, Maldives, USA, China, Bangladesh, Turkey, Canada, Brazil and Pakistan.

The prodigious delegates exchanged poignant ideas and solutions on the topic ‘Climate Change for the Sustainable Developments’ in the General Assembly led by the proficient MUN executives of NAWIS. The MUN literally became a hotspot in the UNHRC session in which the topic ‘Protection and Rehabilitation of Refugees’ was debated.

Muhammed Junaid from Al Yasmin International School garnered the first place for the Best Position Paper in UNHRC session. Aliya of NAWIS was declared the Best Speaker of General Assembly session. Sandeep Sreenivasam from Al Khozama was chosen as the Best Delegate of General Assembly. Joseph Albin from Al Khozama bagged the Best Speaker and Best Delegate titles.

Welcoming the gathering, NAWIS Principal Peter Ronald spoke about the global flavor unfurled at the conference. S.M Noushad, Group Manager of the B.E.S.T Schools, KSA, felicitated the delegates. He emphasized the paradigm shift in the youth leadership. Dr. Thabassum Rashid, Associate Professor, Dept. of Psychology at Effat College, also spoke. Excited by the mind boggling performance of the delegates and their attitude toward global issues, she reiterated that the world is in safer hands.

Dr. Sanna Dhahir, Associate Professor and Dean of Effat College of Humanities, congratulated the delegates and expressed her wonder to behold a replication of a real UN at the conference. Muhammadali, principal of Ahdab International School, stressed in his speech the importance of planting trees and saving the environment. Dr. Shathma Ansari, principal of Jabal Farzan International School, Rabigh motivated the delegates in her rousing speech. Sunil Kumar, Vice Principal of NAWIS, proposed a vote of thanks. Smita Sunil Kumar, headmistress of the school, along with the principal and vice principal presented folders to the delegates, in the presence of several intellectuals, distinguished guests and parents.

The event was adjudicated by a panel of judges — Toastmasters Mohammed Jowhar, Mohammed Safa, and Afasja Jajy. The event was an amalgamation of the exorbitant exhibition of oratory, leadership, diplomacy and communication skills. The one-daylong conference culminated with a glittering valedictory ceremony.