United Nations Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. This year, on October 24, Middle School students from SMUS travelled to Shawnigan Lake School to join peers from across Vancouver Island and abroad at the annual Global Goals Model UN Conference. The conference brought together 220 students, including a visiting delegation from Sacré-Coeur school in Angers, France, with a common purpose: to debate and seek solutions for the world’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Preparing for this day was no small feat. Each student was tasked with studying their assigned country’s stance on complex global issues. They had to embody the perspectives of these nations, perhaps different from their own, to engage in dialogue and to explore compromises—all vital skills for any future leader. For many, it was their first experience in Model UN, facing the challenge of defending resolutions before a mix of older, seasoned debaters and new faces from other schools.
Learning Through Collaboration and Respect
“The timing of the conference, on UN Day, really brought it home for students that they were participating in something on a global scale,” said Leah Judd, SMUS Humanities, Communication and Media Design Teacher, reflecting on the students' spirited engagement.
Instead of competing, SMUS students collaborated meaningfully with delegates from other schools, embodying SMUS values like courage and respect. Students showed a willingness to engage, adapt and work towards shared resolutions with their new peers.
Some of Judd’s proudest included when she watched students adapt with impressive resilience. From stepping into a committee room for the first time to navigating uncharted debate procedures, students quickly learned to assess different positions, find allies and celebrate the achievements of other delegates.
“Our students demonstrated the openness and maturity essential for tackling global issues,” Judd added.
Beyond the Classroom: Real-World Impact
Reflecting on how events like the Global Goals Conference uniquely prepare students, Judd noted that experiences on this scale go beyond traditional classroom discussions. Here, students must research deeply, voice their stances confidently and stay alert for potential allies among various delegates, bringing an edge to their engagement that smaller discussions rarely require. Students aren’t just learning—they are practising how to make a real-world impact, finding and forming partnerships to reach effective solutions.
For Judd, the bus ride home was the most inspiring part of the day. The students couldn’t stop talking about the ideas they heard, their partnerships and the strategies that impressed them.
“These conversations continued long after the conference ended, showing that they weren’t just talking about conference goals—they were thinking about life goals,” Judd remarked.
