10 piloting activities
On April 12, 2024, our brave students involved in the Erasmus+ project participated in ZAMUN - the Model UN Session in Žilina. As spectators, we were able to closely follow the work of the Human Rights Council, which focused on the issue of deportations of illegal Afghan refugees from Pakistan. The debate in English was interesting and led to the successful approval of the resolution.
The attention of students studying the Spanish language was also drawn to the discussion of the ESMUN commission in Spanish, where they addressed the topic: Proposals for a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
We followed the work of both commissions in more detail and thus prepared for VoyMUN - online, which is already taking place at our school these days. We are also participating online with our classmates from Turkey, Italy and Bulgaria. The VoyAGE project is truly an adventurous expedition. Who knows? Maybe in a year delegates from our school will apply to ZAMUN or ESMUN.
Bilingual High School, thank you for the warm welcome and the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge. We thank our English language colleague for her kind mediation.
From 15th to 17th April 2024, the Model UN Meeting - VoyMUN was held at our school. A total of 42 delegates participated, 11 delegates were from us and others were from Turkey, Italy and Bulgaria.
Our students, after completing preparatory workshops over six Fridays and after a thorough study of the countries, appeared online as delegates from Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Niger, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Moldova. They worked hard for three days in two committees:
The students presented their opening speeches, submitted motions, and expressed their support - second or objections to the proposals of other delegates. They contributed to the debates and worked on draft resolutions, which they successfully approved.
These and other expressions will soon be mastered by the third graders who signed up for the civics seminar in the fourth grade. On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, they will participate in the school Model UN Meeting – GVOMUN, which was prepared for them by the VoyMUN participants.
All our students worked with great commitment and surpassed themselves. We believe that this experience will help them progress not only in English, but also in active citizenship.
And what the delegates themselves say about VoyMUN:
“Those were three days of work and preparation, which were challenging but also educational. It was something new that I had wanted to try for a long time. Thanks to this experience I discovered my reserves and at the same time my exceptional qualities.”
“It was an amazing experience which I'm thankful for. Thanks to our chair, Doga Cakar, it was less stressful for the first-timers (including me). Hope we'll meet again.”
“It was very fun and quite educational in the field of international relations, every day I became more interested in the topic and more active. Even though the beginning was a bit chaotic for me, it really improved over time and I was faster in responding to the delegates. After these three days I have greatly improved in improvisation as well as in word formation and presentation in English. I would definitely like to experience something similar again.”
Our great students became delegates at the GVOMUN meeting. On 24th April 2024, we were convinced that our students have the qualities and abilities of excellent delegates representing various countries at the Model UN Meeting - GVOMUN. All the third year students who participated in this meeting with us were able to watch how the individual phases of the meeting were carried out and how the debates developed between the delegates, who got into their roles and vehemently defended their countries on diplomatic grounds. All speeches and conversations were held in English, and the students had to use mainly formal English.
The meeting has its strict rules and procedures that must be followed, as well as certain words and phrases that must be used in communication. Six students, who participated in the VoyAGE educational event in Bulgaria, had to learn these exact rules and phrases together with their Bulgarian, Turkish and Italian friends. Over the past months, they have passed on their knowledge to eleven other GVOZA students. At regular meetings, together with professors Mgr. Trenčanová, Mgr. Machynova and PaedDr. Pekárová, PhD, they have trained new delegates to GVOMUN and, we will see, maybe our future Slovak diplomats.
The VÚC provided us with its congress hall, which allowed the delegates to negotiate at a high level and in a representative environment. Everyone had their own negotiating position, and the Chair and Co-chair, key members of the entire negotiation, had their places on the raised podium, from where they managed the entire course of the GVOMUN. Their language and organizational skills and personal qualities were irreplaceable for us throughout the preparation and implementation of the meeting. We would like to thank them for the responsible way they took on their tasks.
However, thanks go to all the students who found the courage and embarked on this adventurous journey full of difficult and demanding tasks. They all coped with their tasks fantastically and convinced us that every country has its place in the UN and the right to diplomatically express its opinions or demands. Each of the delegates was unique, excellently prepared to defend the interests of their country. All delegates received certificates, diplomas, gifts and awards for their efforts and we believe that they are already looking forward to continuing this adventure in Turkey.
Thank you for being an inspiration to your teachers.
On 24th June 2024, seven students of GVOZA had the opportunity to meet with the youth delegate to the UN, Pavol Beblavý, representing the interests of young people in Slovakia. This meeting was held in the conference hall of the Žilina Self-Governing Region. The students learned interesting information about the history, but also the current functioning of the UN, about how Slovakia is included in this organization, and why the UN was actually established in the international environment.
Another important part of the youth meeting was an info-seminar about the project activities of youth organizations in Erasmus+ projects at all levels of operation and sharing experiences from them. Benefits for students, such as traveling around Europe, were presented. The discussion also included questions for the delegate about how youth organizations are presented in the UN and what opportunities there are to participate in foreign projects. Pavol, strengthened by his experience, spoke very openly about his experiences, opportunities, his influence and future direction.
The participating students discussed various topics about the UN organization and project activities with the youth delegate. They went home enriched by the delegate's valuable experience and inspired by how it is possible to build a career in the UN during their high school studies, or what their interest in education in the field of diplomacy can bring to other areas of life.
Thank you, Pavol.