Model UN in Kosovo

29 Feb 2016

Model UN in Kosovo

After three exciting days of rich debate and discussion, the first model UN conference for high school students ever held in Kosovo came to an end on Sunday 26 February 2016. We wanted to find out more about the participants, their experience and hopes for the future. Find out what they had to say.

Ardit Aliu

Can you tell us a little about yourself and why you participated in the KMUNA conference?

I am Ardit Aliu and I am from Gjilan. I applied for KMUNA (Kosovo Model UN Academy) because I wanted a new life experience. At the conference I represented Spain at the Security Council. KMUNA is great because I learned a lot of stuff.

If you were a politician, what issue in Kosovo would be most important to you?

Education – especially technology related education. I think that school children should have the possibility to learn coding, even from the youngest age.  

What did you find most interesting during this KMUNA conference?

Coming to UNMIK headquarters to do this interview is amazing, I never believed I would get an opportunity to come here and I really want to work here one day in IT or cyber security.

Arber Shala

Can you tell us a little about yourself and why you participated in the KMUNA conference?

My name is Arber Shala. I live in Pristina and I am from Kosovo. I did a first degree in Law at the University of Pristina and I am now pursuing a masters, also at the University of Pristina, in the field of Criminal Justice.

Why did you decide to take part in Model UN?

Because it is a great opportunity to share ideas and meet new people. And in the future it will help us to become good diplomats.

You were chair of the Security Council meeting, can you tell us more about this experience?

It was a very good experience, I previously had some experience with other Model UN conferences but never in the position of chair of the Security Council, so my role was to moderate the debate for the delegates to come up with a resolution.

If you represented Kosovo at the UN Security Council, what issue would you choose to raise?

The most crucial thing to address is how we can enforce rule of law here in Kosovo. With a good justice system comes better economic growth.

Eda Kaja

My name is Eda Kaja and I come from Gjakova. I represented Malaysia at the Security Council. A Peace Corps volunteer came to my school and started the Model UN society and I have been part of the society for two years now. I joined because I wanted to learn more about the world and issues that each country faces. 

What is the most interesting experience you had during the KMUNA conference?

I really liked how friendly and welcoming UN personnel was. I expected everything to be a lot more austere and serious. I also thought our chair was very supportive. Yesterday we had 172 speeches which is the highest number in KMUNA history. Every one of us worked with each other even if we are just high school kids and we have learnt a lot over the past year, so we have finally wrapped up by finding a solution to the problem.

Ana Enache

I am Ana Enache, from Romania and I was the Security Council chair.  

Tell us more about your experience with Model UN and why you took part?

I have been participating in these events for quite some time, ever since I became a student. I think I have participated in almost 15 conferences in every possible position, as a delegate, Secretary General, an organizer, etc., so MUN has been a very important part of my life for a very long time now.

Why do you think it’s important to organize Model UN conferences? What do the participants gain from them?

It completely changes your life and priorities because when I first joined Model UN, I started investing a lot of my time and energy in finding and attending more conferences rather than doing other things students usually do. It opens your horizons, first to a new experience, then to new cultures and new people and it forces you to get out of your comfort zone in a very pleasant way.

If you represented Kosovo at the UN Security Council, what issue would you choose to raise?

I would be delighted to represent Kosovo at the Security Council as it is the most challenging but also interesting committee I know of.

What do you think about the role of young people in Kosovo?

They are the promoters of progress and the future of Kosovo and experiences like Model UN are the perfect starting point for them because it exposes them to world problems and it forces them to acknowledge them and propose solutions. Understanding the world and exercising their ability to find solutions, until they one day get the power to make change, are crucial for young people to become better world leaders.

Gelonida Bajraktari

I am Gelonida Bajraktari and I represented Egypt at the Security Council.

How do you feel about the conference?

It is really exciting working with Model UN. Some of us will maybe study political affairs, and here we can practice what we want to do in the future. We can see how politics work, how we can come to joint resolutions, and if we enjoy it, it will encourage us to study it at university. And if not, maybe this is not for us and we can choose something else. It’s great because firstly we can practice our English, understand the policies of every country in the world and how the Security Council can contribute to peace in the world, which is the greatest achievement.