Fun and learning: GMUN kicks off with ‘global village’

GMUN kicks off with colourful displays of cultural artifacts from countries across the globe.

A Model United Nations conference, dubbed GMUN, kicked off on February 3 with colourful displays of cultural artifacts from countries across the globe. The three-day academic simulation of the United Nations, organised by the Global System of Integrated Studies (GSIS) school, will continue till February 5.

Combining intellect, talent and entertainment, the purpose of the event is to educate its participants in civic sense, current events, effective communication, globalisation and multilateral diplomacy. According to the event’s conveners, “such activities play a very important part in youth empowerment and provide a platform for youth activism.”

The event’s opening ceremony began at 9am with a warm welcome for the participants. In her inaugural remarks, the host Mishal Raza told the guests that “many efforts and sacrifices had been made to make these three days enjoyable.”

The formal programme began with recitation from the Holy Quran. The General Secretary of GMUN, Mushaid Khan, gave a brief introduction to the event and its schedule. Wishing the delegates all the best, he urged them to make their assigned “countries” proud.

The day’s main event was the Global Village, in which delegates got the chance to get creative with their assigned countries’ dresses, food, music and other defining cultural aspects or exports.

Twenty delegations, each consisting of six members, prepared small booths representing their respective countries. Judges roamed about the stalls, asking questions and awarding points to the teams on the bases of creativity, imagination and resourcefulness.

The day concluded with the delegation representing Canada winning the title of ‘best delegation’ and the team representing China being awarded the ‘best costume’ prize. Hannan Riffat took home the ‘outstanding prize for knowledge’.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2011.