Conference of Model United Nations at our school. 11th January YOUTH FORUM

Transcription

1 1/ GYMNÁZIUM JANA NERUDY Conference of Model United Nations at our school First steps 11th January YOUTH FORUM Yes, I know. The official opening ceremony was on Thursday evening, but PRAMUN hadn t slept the night before The first activity, which was held in committees was called YOUTH FORUM And what about was it? About PRAMUN In each committee there met a group of students from many different parts of world. Each of them came with original, clear and unique opinions! They were speaking about quotes by Leo Tolstoy and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. There were philosophical questions like: What is freedom?, practical questions for example: Where is the restroom? or very simple questions: What did you say?. Sometimes all people shouted at the same moment, because they have to say their ideas! And that s PRAMUN! Tomáš Sixta Ok and what PRAMUN actually is? It s something like UN (United Nations) but for students. They are representing delegates from the whole world. They are talking about current situation and trying to search some solutions. They have a lot of themes and for one theme you need one committee. And in every committee you have someone representing each country. So you can imagine how crowded our school could be. But we think that it s really good opportunity for everyone. You are hearing English, you are speaking English, English is everywhere. Berenika Sedláčková

2 PRAMUN / Tour de Prague Which city hosts PRAMUN? In the headline I wrote a very simple question. The answer is absolutely clear! It is also in the name of this conference! PRAGUE Model United Nations. One of the best ways to discover a city is sightseeing. All students of foreign schools had this possibility on Thursday morning and in the afternoon. I joined a group from Zurich International School. We visited Strahov monastery, Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square and lot of other famous monuments. During the Opening ceremony, we heard that Prague is a beautiful city with a thousand years of history. And that s truth! But Prague is not only a city of monuments, long history etc Prague is also a city of fun! There are a lots of legends, interesting places, interesting people here lived (and still live). I hope you all find Prague as a city of fun and good people. Tomáš Sixta

3 3/ Official start of On Thursday evening there was the Opening Ceremony in the Pyramida Hotel Congress Centre. Everyone was dressed up and in a festive mood, full of expectations. Expectations of boring and never-ending evening. However, everyone was wrong. Brilliant beginning was provided by a brass band from GJN. Their entrance evoked really celebratory atmosphere. Then there followed a formal reception of all the delegates. To be honest, that part wasn t the most interesting. However, after the introduction of all the schools, which take part in the conference, the speech given by one of the godfathers of PRAMUN David Williams began. He is the Director of INTYS - International Youth Support, Founder Member of the THIMUN Foundation and former Chairman of the THIMUN Board of Directors. His speech was so wonderful and full of deep ideas, but the conclusion was legendary. Even though I am not sure that everyone got it. He mentioned one Czech word that he had learnt recently: defenestration. Actually, defenestration is not a word of Czech origin. The word comes from the Latin prefix de- (down or away from) and fenestra (window or opening). It means the act of throwing somebody or something out of a window. The first (but not last) defenestration happened on 30 th July 1419 in Prague. So, beware of open windows! The second speech was given by David Rowsell, the headmaster of the English International School, Prague (EISP). His speech was very inspiring. He remembered Václav Havel not as a hero, but as an ordinary man. He reminded us that ordinary people do big things and make a difference. Last speaker was Phillip Schmoll, the beloved founder of PRAMUN. He also remembered Václav Havel in his great speech. He ended with Havel s quote: Truth and love must prevail over lies and hate. I can t decide whose speech was the best, but I can say, that each of them has inspired us. I declare opened! Barbora Loudová

4 4/ Interviews We needed to know opinions from our guests. And here you can see some of them. Sheena Shaw, Security council, Germany: I haven t been in Prague before, I think it s very beautiful and historical city. Yesterday, we visited Prague Castle, where your president lives and we saw the Old Town Square and many other monuments. Anna Routová, Environment committee, CZ: T: Can you tell us, how is it proceeding here? A: Well, the first, we re lobbing for one hour, then we re moving around the class and we re asking others delegates for their opinions, we re collecting signatures for finally resolution from people with similar opinion and tomorrow we will have general assembly and we will make We will make finally a resolution, the best one. AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT PRAMUN? Bára, CZ: I think it s very good experience to meet new people from another countries. Bou, America: I like different cultures, different countries and new people. Jodi,Germany: It s interesting to meet new people. Anna, CZ: It s good opportunity to meet people from all the world and it s good to practice English. Caroline,Germany I joined Pramun because I want enforce my opinions and I would like to raise my self-confidence. -

5 5/ Students opinions of PRAMUN I was at Human Rights committee. Perhaps it s perhaps more intelligent and calmer than real UNO. People are trying to talk and find the best way to help. They haven t got problem with say: Yes you re right. They can say that someone else has better resolution. They have opinion and they know why. They have reason to have it. But they are also able to admit than someone else is right. It s not only blind talking about the same thing for two hours. They are changing their opinions if they think it s better. They are speaking in front of about thirty people but they aren t afraid. They re speaking like native speakers and they are speaking clever. You don t need understand the theme or the language to know it. Berenika Sedláčková, GJN, 1.C It s not only blind talking about the same thing I think it s really interesting to meet new people from all the world and to practise English. It s a good chance to get information about journalists for someone who wants to be a journalist. You can t be nervous and shy if you want to know something. I m happy of being apart of it. Tatiana Šolaja, GJN, 1.C When I came to the human rights committee the first thing that surprised me was that there were many people but everyone was quiet. When someone was talking, giving his opinion and resolution other people were quiet and they were listening him. There was very good atmosphere. I thought that there won t be teenagers but I was mistaken. Everyone could speak English very well. I was afraid for a while because I didn t understand them well but I promised myself that I will learn English well because I want speak English in the future like them. Natáli Moserová, GJN, 1.C

6 6/ Interview with Andrea Jaklová (admin) 1, What do you think about PRAMUN? I think It is a very nice, interesting and useful experience for me and also for all participants. 2, What experiences PRAMUN gave you? PRAMUN gave me occasion to watch how people are trying to imitate a real conference and also watch delegates trying advocate their country s opinions. 3, Is the admin s work a responsibility for you? No, it is rather to get know how conferences are like and sometimes help with something not so hard. 4, Did you already think about being a delegate in the future? I know that next I would like to be a delegate, because PRAMUN really impressed me.

7 7/ Journalists Barbora Loudová Tomáš Sixta Alexandra Šimaiová Berenika Sedláčková Armel Dzian Tatiana Šolaja Natálie Moserová Žofie Klenerová Sára Koďousková Editor-in-Chief Honza Hecht