By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A bunch of world-minded Nossal High School students proved they were ready to douse some of the world’s most urgent crises, according to former diplomat Alf Reina.
Lauren Richardson, Aditya Gadgil, Jordan Van Rhyn and Hayden Radford received awards for a stellar performance at a Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) during a recent weekend on Phillip Island.
“I’m always impressed and inspired by some of the things that kids come up with,” Mr Reina said.
“I say to them our generation has failed to solve these problems, maybe yours can find a solution.”
During the retreat, participants were split into 26 teams of two.
Each team represented a member state of the United Nations in resolution debates on the Syria conflict, human rights in Myanmar, climate change and violence against girls and women.
The students’ ability to get to the “substance” of the debates and reflect their nation’s viewpoint deeply impressed Mr Reina.
The winning teams had gone beyond the debate, and came up with strategies such as offering aid, trade and labour migration opportunities or dishing out sanctions.
“This may be a simulation exercise but the issues are real.”
Mr Reina has been posted as an Australian Government diplomat in London, as well as working with the United Nations to help refugees during the Balkans wars in the 1990s.
He hopes that this crop of students may be the ones who will be working through future vexed international issues, whether in human rights groups, diplomatic fields or large companies.
“Sometimes it takes one maverick to come up with a wild idea that works.”
Nossal High principal Roger Page said the students largely managed the process themselves, which bore outstanding results.
“They are future community leaders and exemplify the potential, commitment and passion present in the young people in our community.”
The students’ costs for the weekend were covered by sponsor, Berwick Rotary Club.
