Parade of flags near the World Forum in The Hague, Netherlands. (BABINSKA-NATALIIA - Adobe Stock)
The last week of January was a busy one for members of Wiesbaden High School’s Model UN club. They traveled to the World Forum in The Hague in the Netherlands to attend a four-day simulation of the United Nations and participated in mock debates.
“By coming together and assuming the positions of different Member States, by walking in their shoes, you will gain insights and come to understand a diversity of points of view.”
— Kofi Annan, a former UN Secretary-General
THIMUN stands for The Hague International Model United Nations. THIMUN started as a small conference in 1968 and now stands as one of the most prestigious Model UN conferences in the world, attracting more than 3,200 students from over 200 schools across the globe. During THIMUN, students represent delegations that take part in debates in committees that focus on the world’s most pressing issues and then present resolutions to help. These issues could range from human rights to the environment.
The Wiesbaden High School Model UN club sent 24 students and represented two countries in two delegations this year: the United Arab Emirates and Jamaica. Some students were asked to give speeches and all of them participated in debates in their respective committees.
“I’ve been going to THIMUN since 2002, and I also participated in the Model UN program in the Pacific before that,” said Chris Evans, a social studies teacher and the Model UN director at Wiesbaden High School. “I enjoy watching students experience it and especially enjoy when students can attend more than once and see them improve.”
“My students pay to participate in THIMUN, and I feel bad about that,” added Evans. “However, they would have to pay much more if it weren’t for the generous donations we receive every year from the Wiesbaden Community Spouses Club, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Wiesbaden High School Parent Teachers Organization.”
Kofi Annan, a former UN Secretary-General, said about Model United Nations, “By coming together and assuming the positions of different Member States, by walking in their shoes, you will gain insights and come to understand a diversity of points of view.”
Celia Overson, a junior at Wiesbaden High School, poses for a photo in her role as Ambassador of the delegation of the United Arab Emirates during her trip to the World Forum in The Hague in the Netherlands, Jan. 31, 2025. (Celia Overson)
The goal of THIMUN is for students to learn about problems around the globe, employ themselves in the world of international diplomacy and relations, and demonstrate their public speaking and leadership skills.
When asked what they thought of the experience, delegate Ethan Self-LoBosco said “It was an honorary exclusive, insightful, humbling, and unique experience at THIMUN. Despite this, you should still go with a friend!”
The Wiesbaden High School Model UN club left another successful THIMUN conference with more than 90 resolutions passed and an incredible experience on their mind.
Editor’s Note: This article was written by a member of the local military community, not an employee of Stars and Stripes. Neither the organization nor the content is being represented by Stars and Stripes or the Department of Defense.
