By Neha Subba
Siliguri, April, 4, 2023: More than 200 students from some 25 educational institutions from different cities are attending the third Salesian Model United Nations.
Om Prakash Mishra, vice chancellor of North Bengal University and the chief guest, declared open the April 3-5 International conference at Salesian College Siliguri. The conference is being organized in association with Press Club Kolkata and UNICEF West Bengal.
The event which features six committees, includes the United Nations Security Council, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Lok Sabha (Parliament), UN System Chief Executive Board, International Press, and Economic and Social Council.
Participants hail from Sikkim, Siliguri, Guwahati, Bangalore, Kolkata and many other locations.
“The conference intends to give young minds a forum to debate global issues and hone their public speaking, diplomacy, and negotiation abilities,” explained Siliguri college’s chief of staff Pratyusha Singha Roy.
Personalities such as Snehasis Sur, president of Club Kolkata, Mohammad Mohiuddin, UNICEF Chief-West Bengal, accompanied by Soniya Menon, Social Behavioural Change Specialist; Pragyan Bharati, Water Sanitation and Hygiene Specialist; Paramita Neogi, Child Protection Specialist; and Suchorita Bardhan, Communication Specialist [Communication Advocacy Partnership] attended the opening ceremony.
The chief guest directed the students’ attention to the importance of being a permanent member of the Security Council. He encouraged Salesian College students to take Model United Nations movement to other colleges of North Bengal University.
Mohiuddin, the UNICEF representative for West Bengal, stressed the significance of youth involvement in global issues and hailed the Salesian Model UN conference as “a fantastic venue” for young people. He also said that model United Nations would teach youth about numerous global concerns and allow them to contribute to society with what they have learnt.
Father George Thadathil, rector and principal of Salesian College, said, “The response from other institutions are extremely encouraging and such an event is an excellent learning platform for the students.”