Our District 5340 was the first Rotary District in the United States to implement a Rotary Model United Nations Program, started by our District’s Pathways to Peace Committee nineteen years ago. Rotary International has a long and proud association with the U.N, with Rotarians involved in its charter, and having the highest consultative status of any nongovernmental organization. We are partners with the U.N. in our PolioPlus initiative.
Rotary clubs select teams of two high school students and one advisor, who can be a Rotarian, teacher or parent. A club can sponsor more than one team. Several months before the Conference, the students are given two current-day UN Resolutions to address and will undergo a day of training in analytical and negotiating skills, what to expect at the actual Conference and then the students select the countries to which they will become ambassadors. Advisors are also given training and advised of our District’s Youth Protection Policy.
Being Rotary, we deliberately recruit students from a cross section of San Diego and Riverside County schools, including inner city schools, charter schools for underprivileged students and more recognized high schools, as well as students from many international countries to give our Conference a true UN flair. In this way, students from a variety of backgrounds get to interact and become friends with each other. MUN students can be from freshmen to seniors.
This year, nearly 100 talented students from high schools across the district gathered at the City of Del Mar Civic Center on March 22 for the 2025 Model United Nations.
In true UN fashion, students represented countries from all over the world and debated two very important resolutions:
- Global Crises Affecting the Health and Safety of Youth Related to WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services).
- Safety of the Child in the Digital Environment.
Following all speeches, final amendments to the resolutions were presented and accepted by the group.
Special VIP guest Jeffrey Dort, Deputy District Attorney addressed the students. Awards and flag exchanges followed.
None of this could have happened without the extraordinary leadership of co-chairs Klaus Gubernator, Kevin Cahill, Gina Woodard and Issac Jackson. If you would like to be part of the team that makes this event happen, please contact any of the co-chairs to learn more.
The District put together a very compelling video showcasing the event that you will want to see. Click here to view.