Girls win international Model United Nations conference

5 May 2017 -

Pupils from Wycombe Abbey have won first place at one of the largest Model United Nations conference in Europe.

The Wycombe Abbey team beat over one hundred teams from schools across the world to win top prize at the St Andrew’s International Model United Nations in Dublin, Ireland.

The girls were presented with the conference’s Outstanding Delegation Award during the conference’s closing ceremony.

Nearly 800 young people attended the four-day conference, which simulated the diplomatic debate of the United Nations.

The girls developed their own solutions to a range of international problems, ranging from youth unemployment and mental health to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

Wycombe Abbey was one of only four British schools to attend the conference, with schools coming from as far away as North America, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.

The Wycombe Abbey team represented the policies of Nigeria in simulations of a range of United Nations bodies including the General Assembly and Economic and Social Council.

Three girls were also considered amongst the best delegates in their committees, with Flora, Eva and Emma winning Outstanding Delegate Awards.

Dr Goddard, who runs the Model United Nations programme at Wycombe Abbey, commented: ‘I am extremely proud of all the girls in the team. They worked extremely hard lobbying in favour of their own solutions to the world’s problems and spoke passionately in their defence during some prolonged negotiations. Everyone on the team has developed important skills, which are critical for future life’.