Students ambassadors in New York for UNICEF summit

Hosted at Nord Anglia International School New York (NAIS NY), our students joined workshops, seminars and debates, including speaking opportunities at the UN’s High-level Political Forum (HLPF). There was also a Model United Nations event, a trip to the UN Headquarters in New York City, and much more.

“The Nord Anglia Student Summit is an excellent opportunity for students to share their ideas and efforts to leaders at the United Nations during the annual High-level Political Forum, where different stakeholders meet to share ideas and assess progress on the Global Goals,” Shannon added.

“This year was the most ambitious yet, where students participated in various sessions and events at the HLPF as well as showcasing their creativity on what the SDGs mean to them through art and activism,” she said.

For the MUN, held over two days at NAIS NY, students acted as representatives of different nations and debate resolutions.

Day one involved a visit to NAIS New York to prepare delegates for the Model United Nations debates over the weekend. Students who had applied to serve as NAE Art exhibitors (including our very own Warren), had the chance to visit the UN Headquarters and speak to UN staff and guests regarding the art pieces produced by their peers from across the NAE family. Over the weekend, dressed immaculately in their business attire, they engaged in MUN-style debates in their respective committees, UNICEF, UNESCO and the WHO. The effort and hard work that they all put into their pre-conference preparation activities paid off as they demonstrated a great understanding of their assigned countries' positions on the various topics under discussion in their committees.

The remaining part of the week involved a tour of the United Nations Headquarters as well as the grand opportunity to interact with global leaders attending the UN's High Level Political Forum through which member countries assessed and reported on the progress made so towards achieving the promises made through the seventeen SDGs.

Both ambassadors admitted that this has been an amazing experience for them and that they look forward to sharing this with their peers and the wider school community. Lucas, in Year 11 and our new Head Boy, added, “This was a truly eye-opening experience! Working with other students from around the world in the Model United Nations forum really brought this event to life, but for me, it was talking face-to-face with the United Nations’ representative from Jamaica inside the United Nations headquarters that turned this into a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I feel like I left New York with a truer understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals and how they link to real lives around our planet.”

Learn more : 

• Read more about : UNICEF
• Read more about 17 Global Goals here 
• More Information about the High Level Political Forum