The recent Da Nang Youth Model United Nations (DYMUN) 2019, themed ‘Looking backward to move forward’, proved greatly successful, attracting a total of about 300 young people aged 15 - 27 from both home and abroad. It is highly noticeable that the founders of this much-applauded even are very young.

Participants getting active in simulating negotiations of international organisations at DYMUN 2019

They are talented boys Dao Duy Manh and Hoang Tung Quan, both from the city’s Le Quy Don Senior High School for the Gifted, and dynamic girl Anna Le, who now study in the USA.

Manh, who is a Year 11 pupil, is the Head of External Relations of the DYMUN 2019.  He said Model United Nations (MUN) is an educational simulation and/or academic activity in which the participants can learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the UN. MUN involves and teaches participants speaking, debating, and writing skills, in addition to critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership abilities. MUN events have been successfully held in many countries worldwide over the past decade.

Given his high proficiency in English, Manh delivered his highly impressive speech in this foreign language at the opening ceremony of the DYMUN 2019.

The talented teenager said he gained valuable experience and meaningful moments as he attended a professionally-organised MUN conference in the capital city of Ha Noi 2 years ago.

During this Ha Noi event, he had the opportunity to make friends with his like-minded peers and gained more knowledge on social issues. It was worth noting that the participants were required to cultivate so many skills; for example, speaking and debating in English, and making 4-page essays to express their points of views on certain issues.

The unforgettable participation in the Ha Noi event really inspired Manh to join forces with his peers, coursemate Hoang Tung Quan and overseas student Anna Le to build up the outlined plans for DYMUN as a way to set themselves a challenge through this thought-provoking and action-starting idea.

During the early days of the building of DYMUN, Manh and his colleagues spent much time appealing for funding from local businesses, seeking guest speakers, attracting participants, and selecting a suitable organising venue for the event.

Manh happily said the DYMUN 2019’s organisers invited 2 famous guest speakers, namely ‘Vietnamese child prodigy’ Do Nhat Nam and Rosie Nguyen, who is the author of the famous book ‘How worthwhile is your youth?’, to this year’s event. Interestingly, their much-awaited presentations received high praise from other participants.

Rosie Nguyen said she had never seen such a programme during which many young people confidently expressed their firm views on global issues of deep concern. DYMUN is really a useful and attractive rendezvous the young to demonstrate their high sense of responsibility towards global socio-economic issues.

DYMUN 2019 featured the formal simulations of meetings of 5 international organisations. They are the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the UN International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), World Health Organisation (WHO) and UN Security Council (UNSC).

In detail, participants will authentically simulate negotiations of the international organisations. During the negotiations, participants will have the opportunity to become delegates who represent a country, as well as its policies and agenda. On behalf of their country, delegates will debate and propose resolutions to tackle urgent global issues, including but not limited to trade war, unemployment, hunger or gender equality. Every committee aims to reach the consensus among the members on a specific issue, while ensuring the national interests of each member states.