mymun Contributes to NORRAG Policy Insights #05 at the Summit of the Future in New York City

Geneva, 26.09.2024 - At mymun, we are beyond excited to announce our essay contribution to the NORRAG Policy Insights #05, which saw its debut during the highly anticipated Summit of the Future on September 22, 2024, in New York City. This issue was launched as part of a collaborative event organized by NORRAG of the Geneva Graduate Institute in partnership with the Ban Ki-moon Foundation, Columbia University, Mission 4.7, the Global Partnership for Education, and the Learning Planet Alliance.

Our article, Untapped Potential: The United Nations’ missed connection with Youth, featured in NORRAG’s latest edition of policy insights, focuses on the pivotal role Model United Nations (MUN) plays in engaging young people with global issues and the United Nations. In our current times of dire funding, we suggest three actionable to-dos for UN organizations to support MUNs that cost no money. We further emphasize how MUN provides an educational platform for Youth to debate pressing international topics, develop diplomatic skills, and build networks of future leaders. The article advocates for stronger integration of MUN into the UN system, recommending increased operational support, deeper youth engagement, and partnerships with academic institutions to equip young people for meaningful participation in global governance.

“When NORRAG reached out to us about the article, there wasn’t a second of hesitation regarding our contribution. It was a no-brainer. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to not only shed light on such pressing matters but also take part in an initiative that aligns so closely with mymun’s vision and mission.” says Alexander Dietz, co-founder of mymun.

Yasmine Ali Mourad, Communications Manager at mymun, adds, “We would love to thank the whole NORRAG team, especially Caroline Earle, for the constant support throughout our collaboration. It was an absolute pleasure and eye-opening experience to work with such bright minds and to be part of this monumental step to including youth in policy. We look forward to the implementation of our recommendations, hopefully very soon.”  

As the authors, we are excited to share these ideas at such a prestigious event, which offers the perfect opportunity to share our vision and mission at the crossroads of the future world we are building and continue advocating for the importance of youth-driven initiatives in shaping the future of global governance. We believe that through MUN, students learn about international relations and develop leadership and problem-solving skills essential for addressing today's complex global challenges. 

You can download the full policy insights here: https://resources.norrag.org/resource/download/895/475. You find the mymun article on page 82.