For the past seven months, freshmen Nicole Shrem and Yoan Garnenkov along with sophomore Alan Imar mentored students from the Aventura Waterways Preporatory Academy at the Krop Annex to improve their Model United Nations skills (also known as Model UN).
This weekend, students from grades six to eleven are representing Aventura Waterways in a competition at Florida International University Model UN (FIMUN). Model UN is a program designed for students from middle school through college which mirrors the United Nations. The United Nations is a global body where countries meet in order to discuss international issues, disputes, and conflicts. It acts as a forum where nations voice their concerns and request assistance. The competition, or conference in Model UN terms, which will take place until Mar. 13, is spearheaded by Livio Alessandro Zanardo and the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs.
“I’ve been a member of the Florida International University Model United Nations team for two years,” Zanardo said. “Model UN provides us with a tool of empowerment for students, teachers, and communities alike.”
Mr. Jefferey Dean, the club advisor for Model UN at Aventura Waterways, started the team in 2010. Since then, the team has competed in numerous tournaments including the United Nations Association of the United States (UNAUSA) Miami Dade Model UN, Panther Model UN, UNAUSA International Model UN, FIMUN and Miami Invitational Conference Model United Nations (MICSUN).
The middle school students at the Krop Annex just west of Krop’s campus have appreciated the work that the coaches put into teaching them about Model UN. Numerous students, including Student Government President Gabriel Pacchiele, have won awards such as best delegate at the conferences they have participated in.
“Model UN really opened me up to the world. It’s taught me the art of negotiation and debate as well as being involved in the world and knowing what’s going on.”
– Gabriel Pacchiele
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, representing Florida’s 27th congressional district, was the keynote speaker. She has sponsored numerous bills in the House of Representatives, including one calling for the United States to withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) because of its negative bias against Israel.
“I’m thrilled to be here back in my Alma Mater,” Ros-Lehtinen said. “We need young people who really care to step up to the plate and make change. Right here in this room is the next generation of those folks.”