On October 18th, West Point Grey Academy will be hosting the third annual Vancouver Youth Model United Nations (VYMUN). VYMUN is a United Nations simulation open to grades 7 through 10, and is expected to be a learning experience for these students. At VYMUN, delegates develop an understanding of the workings of the United Nations and the dynamics of the international community by assuming the roles of UN representatives and other international bodies. The goal of VYMUN is to give students an opportunity to learn the rudiments of model United Nations. Delegates at the conference develop understanding of international relations and global issues, stepping into the shoes of delegates to various organizations from around the world. Faced with problems that plague the global community, delegates are given a chance to come up with solutions in a group setting.

Students who attend the conference will learn how governments conduct negotiations not only for the benefit of their own nation but also for the world as a whole through a realistic simulation of how actual committees of the United Nations function. This experience not only teaches delegates how to solve problems, it also illustrates the way in which actual political groups conduct themselves. VYMUN teaches students skills that they would not learn in classrooms because one can only truly understand how a nation thinks by representing them, speaking on their behalf, and negotiating for them.

I am proud to announce that the theme for VYMUN this year is New World Order. The current generation of youth finds itself in a world that is changing faster than ever before. The increasingly connected world is not only seeing exciting new prospects, from the rise of the internet to the candidacy of Barack Obama, but also new challenges, such as international terrorism and shifting economic frontiers. The youth of today carry the burden of making sure that the changes we are all experiencing reach their potential to make the world a more just, equitable, and peaceful place. We have adapted to correct the mistakes of the past and hopefully VYMUN will help you create a New World Order that will shape our planet for years to come.