Maddalena Sartor Nov 5, 2018

Have you ever wondered a place in which you can learn and laugh hard at the same time? A place in which your voice finds a space and your ideas are listened to and debated? A place in which differences harmonically mix together as if there were no borders nor obstacles at all? That’s what MUNs are!

People from all over the world come by, taking and leaving something. Different races, religions, cultures, traditions, perspectives, languages and ways of thinking perfectly work together tied by the passion for diplomacy and international relationships. You would ask yourself why I am saying relationships and not relations, well… Because being a muner it is not just about being academically dedicated to global affairs, but also, and more importantly, it means being in love with the world and the people living in it. Being a muner is constructing strong boundaries with the people you meet, leaving a positive path in their life. It is caring of the others and getting to know a little part of their life, hoping that, sooner or later, you will see them again and at the same time, knowing that eventually a part of them will always be with you. However, being a muner is, most of all, being willing to spend your life fighting for a better world. It is working hard to become a conscious citizen who will contribute to make this planet a better place for the present and next generation. MUN conferences are not just a role play; they are not just “an experience”. MUNs are true opportunities to develop our skills, enrich ourselves and get all the tools we need to succeed in the most ambitious project a diplomat can have: change the world.

Some people may call us dreamers but, actually, there is something wrong in this conception. I think of us as believers much more than dreamers. We believe in a better world and this is not a dream nor a fault. We believe in a world with more equality and equity. We believe in a world where people don’t die for hunger, poverty, natural disaster or wars because of the avidity of someone else. We believe in a world where each person, no matter what his/her nationality, sex or age is, is ensured with education, rights and a decent quality of life. We believe in a world where frontiers are overcome by understanding and respect, where cultures meet together and people speak the same language of love for human differences. We truly believe in outstanding humans’ capabilities and, at the same time, we are fully aware of their weaknesses. But most of all, we are really ready to give up something in the name of these ideals. And all of this, together with our passion and motivation, is what will drive us to succeed in our common project. I am not sure if these emotions and thoughts are of all muners , but I can definitely say that they are shared by most of the ones I met so far in my international experience as a muner. What would I like to say to you? Risk, take up the challenge and jump into diplomacy!