For the first time at Avenor, a team of 14 high school students, led by Sara, a Grade 10 Omega student, organized the inaugural edition of the Avenor Model United Nations conference (AvenorMUN).
AvenorMUN was an academic simulation of United Nations debates, giving students the opportunity to represent different countries and discuss current global issues in committees modeled on the real UN structure. Over the course of three days, students experienced a full immersion in diplomacy, critical thinking, and international collaboration.
We learn more about this event from Sara, Grade 10 Omega student and Secretary-General of AvenorMUN.
A Team Like at the UN
Reflecting the structure of the real United Nations, the organizing team included key roles such as Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, President and Vice-President of the General Assembly, alongside managers for PR, Media, Staff, Photography, and Finance. Together, they created an authentic and memorable conference.
Participation was impressive: 75 student delegates and a total of around 130 people involved, including organizers and volunteers. The countries represented spanned a wide range, from major economic powers such as China, the USA, Germany, France, the UK, and Japan, to developing nations like Angola, Brazil, and Egypt, providing students with diverse perspectives on global politics.
Current Topics and Diverse Committees
“The committee debates covered a variety of complex historical, political, and ethical topics. In the Security Council, delegates analyzed the territorial disputes between China and Taiwan, while in the World Health Organization committee, they discussed the impact of high-dose treatments on individuals with personality disorders. The House of Lords explored the case of Airdale NHS Trust v. Bland, a classic debate on medical ethics and end-of-life decisions. In the Legal Committee, participants attempted to develop an international framework for cyber warfare, and the Crisis Committee challenged delegates to manage a tense historical situation—the fall of the Romanov family.” — says Sara, a Grade 10 Omega student and event coordinator.
Through these topics, students learned to argue, negotiate, and collaborate in a creative and engaging academic environment.
In this context, we invite you to read the testimony of Valentin Brabete, Economics and Business Studies teacher, on the impact of this event.
The first edition of the Avenor MUN conference was an outstanding exercise for our students! From an organizational perspective, it was an event held outside our campus and open to a large number of students from both Bucharest and other parts of the country, including those from private and public schools. From a content and agenda perspective, for us adults less familiar with the MUN model, it was a true demonstration of expertise, experience, and curiosity.
Sara, the project initiator at school and organizer of this edition, demonstrated remarkable maturity in coordinating the team. She opened the event with a speech about humanity and closed it with one of the most compassionate and sensitive speeches we have ever heard from a Grade 10 student. Most importantly, Sara succeeded in creating new connections between Avenor students and their peers from other schools, both among the participants and within the organizing team.
“We are proud to see our students so warm and responsible, not only in their role as hosts but also as true co-creators of such experiences alongside peers from across the country,” notes Valentin Brabete.
Special Guests and Inspiration for the Future
The opening ceremony featured three remarkable speakers: Irina Ciucioi, Wargha Enayati, and Oana Suciu. Their speeches inspired the participants and provided an ideal framework for the following days of debates.
Wargha Enayati, cardiologist, founder of ‘Regina Maria’ and Enayati Medical City, Romania’s first medical city, offered a philosophical perspective, exploring the concept of “the why” in life—the fundamental question of why we do what we do.
Oana Suciu, Professor of Political Science, took a pedagogical approach, engaging participants in an interactive exercise to demonstrate that “everything is politics.” Her message emphasized the importance of understanding the political realities around us and highlighted that we cannot remain indifferent to the decisions and events that influence our daily lives.
In conclusion, Irina Ciucioi, General Manager and Global Executive Leader of Goodyear Tire & Rubber, emphasized that diplomacy is an essential skill in any business field. She shared insights from her own experience coordinating international projects, explaining how she successfully brought together people from different cultures, with diverse interests and communication styles, to collaborate effectively and harmoniously.
A Vision Turned into Reality
“I am incredibly happy that AvenorMUN has finally become more than just an idea and that we were able to bring together over 70 students from different schools across Romania. Over the past six months, together with an organizing team of around 15 people, we worked intensively to create an unforgettable experience for the participants. From the discussion topics to food and venue, we tried, as much as possible, to provide a realistic picture of what diplomacy looks like in practice,” says Sara, Secretary-General of AvenorMUN.
Sara also emphasizes that the event’s success was measured not only in numbers but also in its educational and personal impact on the participants:
“I believe the event was a true success because we achieved our goal: to offer students in Romania an interactive educational experience that allowed them to learn about real-world issues while also developing their debating and critical thinking skills.
Organizing the Avenor Model United Nations conference made me realize how many passionate and engaged young people are involved in extracurricular activities, and it motivated me to continue creating opportunities where they can participate in projects with real impact.”
