Newton Model United Nations is a simulation activity in which students from different schools have the opportunity to practise international diplomacy following Model UN rules of procedure, which will take place on April 18th and 19th, 2020 at Newton College.
NewMUN offers a space for students to debate the most relevant and controversial worldwide issues and to draft innovative and viable solutions. Delegates will be encouraged to develop negotiation, public speaking, teamwork, leadership, policy crafting and other skills that are essential for the future lives of well-rounded citizens.
Throughout the two days of the conference, 200 high school students will be deliberating on issues adapted from the agenda of the United Nations and its partner regional bodies, BASED AROUND OUR 2020 THEME: A MINDSET, A MOTION, AND A FUTURE.
Carlos Urrunaga is a Form VI student from Spain and is currently in our IB Programme at Newton College. He plans on studying Biochemistry or law.
He has been a key performer in the training and encouragement of Model United Nations in Newton since he joined the team as an usher for NewMUN 2016. At Newton, he has been serving as an executive, part of the secretariat, since 2018 and as the new Secretary-General in 2019. Carlos has had the opportunity of attending Harvard MUN twice and has been able to attain a variety of recognitions in various conferences throughout his experience.
Carlos sees MUN as a means of understanding a broader picture of the world and society. But more importantly, he believes in the power of MUN as a means to be able to change a person forever. As living proof of such a belief, he carries his very best smile and efforts to every conference and training session in the hope of sharing what MUN is truly about to everyone.
In his free time, Carlos enjoys reading a book along with a nice cup of coffee and drawing leisurely whatever comes to mind. Carlos is also involved in training both, the Spanish and English debate teams at Newton College.
Ainhoa Ceballos is a Peruvian student currently in our second year of the IB Diploma Programme at Newton College who, as of now, plans to study either economics or business.
She has loved MUN ever since she joined the club in 2016, now having attended to more than 10 conferences. In 2018, she joined the Secretariat as an executive, and she has become Deputy Secretary-General for Newmun 2020.
She enjoys discussing worldwide relevant and controversial issues, discussing them through diplomatic means and raising awareness towards change. She especially loves attending SOCHUM committees.
Ainhoa believes that MUN is an opportunity for growth and development. Aimed at forming her as a well-rounded and responsible leader; one who is conscious about our society´s real issues. She believes being able to speak in public, negotiate, network, and treat others with diplomacy is key for future situations in life beyond school, as MUN is a representation of the world. It is the precise balance of the remarkable skills gained and the knowledge on world issues, through political, social, and economic lenses that make MUN so dynamic, engaging and interesting.
In her free time, Ainhoa loves listening to music and playing the guitar. She also loves to participate in social activities especially Operation Smile as she had the opportunity to be the leader of at school this year. Last she loves to play tennis and practise sports such as biking and swimming.
Alvaro Estrella is a Peruvian student currently in the IB Diploma Programme at Newton College who plans to study Computer Science.
He joined Model United Nations in 2014, first participating in FDRMUN. After a small 5 year break, he rejoined and became part of the Secretariat as an executive and has been actively participating ever since. Alvaro has very much enjoyed the variety of committees provided, however, he mainly enjoys crisis committees.
Alvaro sees Model United Nations as an opportunity of self discovery. He considers MUN helps realize your strengths and weaknesses as MUN requires an individual to be well rounded; leadership, confidence, public speaking, reasoning for long or short-term solutions, empathy, and organization are some attributes that a delegate are required to have.
In his free time, Alvaro enjoys listening to music, playing the flute and programming. Even though topics such as religion, sports,... are seen as controversial, Alvaro believes it is important to talk about them and act in diplomacy even in our daily lives.
He very well wishes the best for all delegates attending NewMUN 2020, and hopes the conference will help the development of each individual’s skill set.
Arnav Sahoo is a Chilean-born student with Indian roots who is currently studying in the last year of the Middle Year Programme at Newton College. He plans to study Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, as well as other topics of Computer Science, in the future.
He joined Model United Nations in 2016, his first conference being Santa Maria Model United Nations. In his MUN career, there have been many highlights. For instance, on his first conference, which was a UNHRC, he won a diplomacy award. Later on, in 2018, alongside one of his best friends, Matias Blanes, he was able to go beyond his limits and achieve even more. This continued on in 2019 and by 2020, he became part of the secretariat team of the Newton Model United Nations club.
Something that many delegates are told is that Model United Nations is a community where one can find his/her own place while experimenting his/her talents and become a better delegate through time. Arnav partially disagrees with this philosophy. MUN is not a place to experiment with your talents, but to help determine which are your weaknesses and overcoming them, or by setting goals for yourself. Not all Model United Nations conferences will be easy, but that is exactly what Arnav likes about MUN.
In his free time, Arnav usually likes to watch anime, play video games, go out with his friends, do some programming and play his trumpet. Thus, Arnav looks forward for delegates to assist NewMUN 2020, and is willing to provide service at his fullest.
Matias Blanes is currently studying in the last year of the Middle Years Programme at Newton College. He has both Peruvian and Spanish nationalities and plans to study, primarily, systems engineering, and as secondary choices, politics, medicine, or business administration in the future.
He began his journey in Model United Nations in 2018, his first conference being Newton Model United Nations 2018. By taking chances and gaining experience, and after several attempts at trying out different committee types, Matias specifically found Security Council and Crisis committees as the ones he enjoyed the most.
The year 2018 was a special year for Matias, strengthening his knowledge and surpassing his limits with each conference he attended, alongside the help and guidance of his friend Arnav Sahoo. By the year 2019, he had become part of the Secretariat, having attended 11 conferences in the year 2018, his first year. His efforts to become an even more well-rounded individual continued in the year 2019, accomplishing personal set goals, and experimenting with strengths and weaknesses. As for 2020, he looks forward to working alongside the Newton Secretariat in the upcoming Newton Model United Nations conference (NewMUN 2020).
Matias sees Model United Nations as a learning experience, in which you find what weaknesses you have, experimenting with solutions, plans, and goals to overcome them. Model United Nations teaches you how to refine and polish your strengths in different ways, by using them as you participate with other delegates. while you learn from them too. In Model United Nations, it may not always go your way, but this is what Matias enjoys the most, as he finds a way to learn from his mistakes and strive in future opportunities.
In his free time, Matias likes to play video games, listen to music, watch anime and Netflix, read books, and hang out with friends. Thus, Matias looks forward to having a pleasurable experience and is willing to provide any help possible during NewMUN 2020.
Maria Victoria Gayoso, is a Newton College graduate and has plans to study Biotechnology.
She joined the MUN club in late 2017, and she feels that each and every conference has helped her become a sharper advocate for her beliefs, and to regard the future of our society with level-headed optimism.
She participated in Harvard MUN in early 2019, which was an enriching, incredible experience that helped her reinforce her abilities as a delegate, and as a leader. Soon after, she joined the Secretariat as an Executive, and now motivates the younger delegates to strive forward and encounter joy through participation.
Maria Victoria views MUN not only as an academic club-- but as a possibility. For her, being part of MUN means having the possibility to give a voice to those oppressed by the world’s conflicts, to put oneself in their shoes and to find solutions using the tools of our generation. Of course, always doing so with great enthusiasm, as she believes that it is the best way to have a good time.
Leisurely, Maria Victoria greatly enjoys painting with watercolors, playing the piano, reading, and listening to music.
