Hoffman Middle School Students Participate in Model UN Conference

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Fourteen Hoffman Middle students participated in the Model UN Session held April 6 at the Lanier School. Five hundred students from Houston area middle schools and high schools participated, and 15 area university students served on the Secretariat. Created by the United Nations Association, Global Classrooms seeks to engage these middle school and high school students in an exploration of current world issues through interactive simulations and curricular materials that cultivate literacy, life skills and the attitudes necessary for their own active citizenship.

The culmination of Global Classrooms program year is a Model United Nations Conference held in each Spring. At this conference students step into shoes of UN Ambassadors and debate a range of issues on the UN agenda with their peers from other area schools. The goal is to integrate an understanding of global issues while also developing academic and workplace skills in leadership, research, writing, problem solving, public speaking, and negotiation skills. It provides middle and high school students with the opportunity to experience a Model UN Conference and to become part of the larger national Model UN community.

Participating schools are assigned countries. Hoffman students represented Australia, Iran and Japan. To prepare for the Model UN simulations, students formed two-person committees to study in-depth their respective countries assigned. They had to learn a variety of important facts and information including their country’s government, history, ethnic makeup, religions, languages, geography, political relationships, allies, enemies, economy, and gross domestic product. Members had to know the topics assigned and how various issues affected their country as well as be aware of multiple sides of a particular debate.

The Model UN sponsor at Hoffman Middle School, an International Baccalaureate World School, is Jessica Morales. Below are the countries and committees Hoffman students represented at the Model UN Conference:

Iran
World Health Organization (WHO) — Jordyn Phillips and Yasmeen Miller

Australia
Economic and Social Council — Guillermo Hernández and Rodrigo Bernal

Japan
World Health Organization — Mya Roberston and Dominique Rhodes
Economic and Social Council – Gisell Alfaro, Victor Solorzano and David Velez
Human Rights Council – Pamela Pattum and Infant Marin
*United Nations Development Programme – Cedric E Flemons, Adrian Sweed and Trayvelle Major (Received Honorable Mention Award.)

Hoffman Middle students at Model United Nations.