MUN at Markham

In Markham College, MUN is an acclaimed and popular activity where students with mixed interests and a love for public speaking join to expand their knowledge and abilities

COUNTDOWN TO THE CONFERENCE

OUR HISTORY

Our school has a notable past with hosting events, with over 400 participants in our traditional conferences, and more than 200 in our first virtual online conferences. What really matters and what paths the history of the Markham community is the commitment and effort every team member gives.

Here at Markham, we take Model United Nations not only as an extracurricular activity but as a chance to grow, learn and become better versions of ourselves. We’ve taken our delegations to international conferences overseas, travelling to major cities like New York, and we’ve even won ‘Best International Delegation’ at Harvard University’s MUN. Each time, we learn more about each other and find ways to improve as a whole.

We value teamwork, friendship, and perseverance. We strive to the top through hard work, respect for others and honesty. We’re not afraid to recognize our mistakes, and that’s what makes us stronger, that’s the Markham legacy.

Letter from the Secretary-General

First and foremost, welcome to our Markham MUN Conference 2024! My name is Isabella Campos, and as this year’s Secretary General of Markham MUN it is my utmost pleasure and honor to be hosting all of you esteemed delegates, faculty members and guests in our school campus. Along with our faculty advisor, Mr Malanaphy and my fellow secretariat, Xavier, Bernardo and Esteban, we have worked tirelessly from the beginning of the year to make this conference happen. We have strived to create an unforgettable experience for each and every one of you that embodies the spirit of democracy, fosters a space for diverse perspectives and motivates you to grow through what I am certain will be fruitful debate.

The exceptional experience of being secretary general and planning this conference has been an invigorating challenge and demanding labor but most of all an absolute honor. As secretary general, I get to lead the weekly activities which have motivated many of your chairs to reach their full potential while they undertake deep moral and ethical issues that impact our world today as well as aspiring to find the most impactful plausible solutions. I have also encouraged many of your ushers and moderators to grow their interest in this wonderful activity and integrate themselves into our community. I am beyond proud of the outstanding group filled with extremely dedicated, creative and collaborative delegates who have driven me every step of the way.

I would like to continue this letter by formally introducing myself and my love for MUN. I am currently in S4 and have grown to like history, mathematics and debates. Nevertheless, my passion for MUN is undoubtedly unmeasurable as it has created the most enriching experiences of my high school. My peers and faculty have encouraged me to reach my goals, advocate for injustices and debate vividly every step of the way. I joined this activity as an 11-year-old, clueless of what it was, how much it would help me and the love I would grow for it. If there’s one thing I would like to thank for my public speaking abilities and my concern for global issues, it’s MUN. Above all, I am grateful to MUN as it was through this transformative experience that I realized my desire to study international affairs and solidified my aspiration to pursue a career in law. This activity gives you a more comprehensive intersectionality but it also allows you to share your ideas, voice your concerns and empower yourself. One can be the most capable for the job, but without being heard you can’t truly make an impact.

My advice for this conference is to enjoy every second of it because time flies and before you know it you will be at the closing ceremony, or maybe even at your last MUN conference before you graduate. Don’t dare think twice about approaching another delegate to come up with a great master plan, raise your placard to participate or make a new friendship in your chaotic breaks while you draft. Have confidence in your abilities and your growth, even if our conference is your first, and reach not just for the best delegate gavel but also to be upstanding global citizens and leave your own impact in our world.

Delegates, best of luck!

Kind regards,

Isabella Campos

Secretary General of Markham MUN

Letter from the Undersecretary General

Dear delegates, faculty advisors and others,

Let me be the second to introduce you all to Markham MUN 2024! My name is Xavier Martinez and I am Markham College’s Under Secretary General for this year. Since the beginning of this year, the Markham MUN team has been working day and night to bring this conference to life. We had to find a balance between training and planning, had to attend meetings, gather chairs, convince young MUNers to take part as ushers and hardest of all, convince teachers to let us use their classrooms. Despite all the setbacks and inconveniences thrown our way, we are proud to have created an experience that you all will hopefully treasure, learn from and enjoy.

Just like Isabella, I am currently in S4 and by the time the conference begins, I will have finished my IGCSE examinations. I have a deep interest in physics and mathematics which is why I plan on studying engineering later in life. Apart from this, I am also a musician and have a band of my own called Lime and Tonic which you can listen to in spotify! Despite my interest in different activities, the most impactful of all is MUN. Since joining back in 2020, Model UN has changed my life drastically. My public speaking and negotiation skills have been massively heightened due to MUN. Even though I do not have the desire to enter a diplomatic career, the skills and abilities developed at MUN have helped me immensely. No matter what you want to do in life, MUN has something to offer.

I encourage every single one of you to enjoy this conference, do your best and reach for your goals but also take time to meet new people, approach them during breaks and create new friendships. I wish you all the best of luck during this conference and hope you have a great time debating and discussing just like we had a great time planning it.

Yours Sincerely,

Xavier Martinez

Under Secretary General of Markham MUN