This guest article was provided by Zoey Fisher, a member of the GLOMUN staff.
MUNers are solution oriented. They are critical thinkers. They are ready to respond to any crisis at any time, and most importantly, work with their peers to do so. Naturally, these skills, learned from hours spent writing directives and amending working papers, would carry over into the real world. It’s not surprising that as the global pandemic worsened, and the prospect of participating in in-person MUN conferences diminished, delegates and leaders from around the world joined forces to do what they do best: adapt.
Global Leaders Online Model United Nations (GLOMUN) is a product of the adaptability and collaboration that is characteristic of the MUN universe. The inspiration for GLOMUN came from student Model United Nations leaders from around the world, who aimed to bring the Model United Nations experience to students, despite restrictions on large gatherings imposed by the global pandemic. The unique, virtual nature of the conference will allow delegates to engage in live debates from their homes in almost every continent. This is truly an unprecedented feat in the world of Model United Nations, and the GLOMUN team is beyond excited to pave the way for the many conferences that are sure to follow this virtual model.
Members of the GLOMUN staff team at our full team meeting
What sets GLOMUN apart from every other Model UN conference, both virtual and live, is the diversity of the staff team. GLOMUN secretariat and staff members hail from all six inhabited continents and over fourteen countries worldwide. Our over 70 staff members consist of high school and college students from schools such as Phillips Academy Andover, Glenbrook South, Bergen County Academies, West Windsor Plainsboro South, Columbia University, New York University, Dartmouth College, among many others. Although our wide range of time zones may force us to have 11:00 pm secretariat meetings and edit background guide footnotes in the middle of the night, we could not be more thankful for the experience of working as a truly global team—from our homes around the world. Despite the many difficulties we face as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we also recognize that the situation has afforded us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with one the most diverse cross section of MUN delegates and leaders and set the stage for the future of Model United Nations conferences.
As such, the theme of the GLOMUN 2020 is connection. We are constantly discovering new ways to communicate with one another, and it is with great joy that we are bringing Model UN to an online platform where we can reach hundreds of delegates from around the world. However, the motif of connection is not limited to its traditional definition. During these difficult times, we are reminded of our connection to one another and the comradeship we share in pursuit of a better future. We hope that your experience with GLOMUN 2020 will embolden our delegates to serve the global community as the next generation of leaders, diplomats, and ambassadors.
Global Leaders Online Model United Nations will be conducted virtually through Zoom and Gatherly from August 1-2, 2020. GLOMUN will feature 12+ committees: General Assemblies, Specialized committees, and Crisis committees. General Assemblies will also include committees in THIMUN procedure and in Spanish. These committees will debate a diverse set of topics that range from historical, political, fantasy, and so much more. Our largest GA committees will be comprised of at most 75 delegates, and our smallest crisis committees will consist of about 15 delegates, ensuring that each participant receives the same, personalized GLOMUN experience. We are so excited to offer such a wide variety of committee options and styles so all delegates, no matter their background, can gain the confidence to join the debate. Additionally, all net proceeds will be donated to the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Response Solidarity Fund. We chose to dedicate our conference to this cause to inspire delegates to use the skills gained through MUN to take real action towards the complex issues the global community faces today.
The GLOMUN team is so excited to see fruitful debate take place across thirteen time zones and dozens of countries. It is our greatest wish that delegates will leave the conference having gained not only a deeper understanding of global affairs, but also genuine friendships and connections with one another. If you are interested in registering for GLOMUN 2020 and pioneering MUN in this pivotal moment, register here: https://www.glomun.org/home/registration
