The 40th session of the Yale Model United Nations is underway in New Haven. Nearly 1,700 high school students from as far away as New Zealand have been immersing themselves in the Model U.N. experience, taking advantage of the plethora of speeches, classes and other activities happening this weekend.
"Think Globally, Act Locally' is the theme of this year's session. "Students from around the world come together to share ideas, and to debate from a certain countries perspective," said Yale freshman Adam Gerard, who is Yale Model U.N.'s assistant secretary general of outreach. "Each student is assigned a unique country, and a unique committee. Each committee will have fantastic speakers relevant to the topic."
Model U.N. students will also have the chance to attend seminars and lectures at Yale through the Global Exchange program. In a unique partnership with non-profit microloan organization Kiva, delegates will be assigned a Kiva project that is similar to a topic they are working on in the Model U.N.
Adam Gerard said he hopes the experience at the Yale Model U.N. will inspire these future leaders to do what they can to make a difference now. The program runs through Sunday on the Yale University campus.
