Dubai International Academy holds Diamun - their first Model United Nations conference

The 3-day forum is aimed at giving its large multicultural student population the opportunity to discuss ways in which they can contribute to the international debate on achieving peace and prosperity.

Several distinguished personalities were present at the inauguration ceremony on Thursday including Ms. Hind Owais, Second Secretary, UAE Mission to the United Nations, H.E. Mr. Venu Rajamony, Consul General of India, H.E. Mr. Kees VA van Spronsen, Consul General of Netherlands, Mr. Finbarr Curran, World Food Programme Director, WFP Dubai, Mr. Karl Mythen, The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) Board Member, International School of The Hague and Mr. Hamdi Osman, Founding Board Member of Dubai International Academy and Regional Vice President of FedEx.

Diamun 2009 hosted by DIA is being attended by student "envoys" from 11 other schools from UAE, and also from Saudi Arabia and India. Along with DIA, other participating schools for Diamun 2009 are American Academy for Girls; American International School of Jeddah, KSA; Cambridge International School, Dubai; Delhi Private School, Sharjah; The Doon School, India; Dubai British School; Dubai Scholars; Emirates English Speaking School; Emirates International School, Jumeirah; Emirates International School, Meadows, and Universal American School.

Diamun 2009 is an opportunity for the young and conscious citizens of the world to showcase their oratorical and analytical skills at the forum, which is a virtual small-scale version of the United Nations. The theme of Diamun 2009 is "Empowerment through Education", which relates to the millennium development goal of the UN.

The Model United Nations Programme is part of the extra-curricular activities of many high schools, colleges and universities around the world and broadens students' horizons and provides them an opportunity to interact with students from different countries and cultures. In just four years that the school has been established, and one year since they started the MUN club at DIA, the dedicated students at DIA have succeeded in launching their own MUN. So far DIA students have participated in eight MUN conferences including The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) in Singapore, The Hague, and Munish- conducted by International School of The Hague, UNA-USA for Middle Schools Students in New York and Harvard MUN.

At Diamun, the young delegates adopt the policies and perspective of the countries that they have been allocated and debate local and global issues with the goal of resolving each of the problems through negotiations. Whether it is for finding solutions to guarantee and finance education in less developed countries or issues facing migrant workers, the student "envoys" researched and discussed all possibilities for a better future.

Mr. Karl Mythen, Board Member, THIMUN, said:

"Through education we develop understanding and through understanding we can contribute to finding solutions to the problems that are facing the world today and in the future."

Bhanu Shankar, MUN Director of DIA, said: "DIA's young delegates have been passionately involved in MUN Conferences. At Diamun, students will have the opportunity to develop communication skills, arrive at a consensus to resolve conflicts and learn to cooperate; all of which will help them in whatever profession they choose. Despite the hard work they put in, students immensely enjoy attending MUN conferences.

Aahan Bhojani, the Secretary General of Diamun, who has held chair positions at THIMUN, said: "What you will give to Diamun is time, dedication, commitment, and the willingness to compromise in search of viable solutions; however, what you will bring back from the conference are skills, dispositions, and friendships that will last you a lifetime".

Anja Gullerfelt, who has previously represented DIA at two MUN conferences, and is now the Deputy Secretary General and the President of the Security Council, said: "The best thing about the conferences is that you are building a global network. You meet people from all over the world, and in the process establish relationships that may prove to be useful to one's future career".

DIA has a student body of over 1,695 students of 73 different nationalities plus over 200 staff members from 23 different countries, making it a reflection of the multiculturalism of the United Nations.