Six Columbus School students, Federico Caro, Maria Paula Jimenez, Ricardo Perez, Salome Beyer, Daniel Meneses and Santiago Urrea were invited to the best model of The United Nations in Switzerland.

The Columbus School was invited to participate due to their outstanding performances at other models. The students were selected because of their high academic level and previous experience. The Club of The United Nations at The Columbus School chose Switzerland instead of the other invitations recieved because in Switzerland, students could get to know one of the most important sites of the United Nations.

“That trip was the best trip I have ever had in my entire life, we went to the Alps, we went to the real ONU, we had such a good time,” Salome Beyer, Columbus School student, said.

The model in Switzerland is considered by many the most accurate UN simulation except for the one in New York. Students were assigned to different commitees like Security Council B  which discussed the provision of emergency relief in conflict. Security Council B, which discussed threats to international peace or The General Assembly High-Level Summit on the Empowerment of Women.

“I was given Security Council which were debating mostly the topic of threats to international peace, like terrorist attacks and that. I liked it very much even though my committee was at an university level and I was the youngest boy in the committee, being the only one in school,” Santiago Urrea, Columbus School Student.

Not all the students went as delegates, 11th grader Federico Caro  went as president of The General Assembly. Being a president of a committee means that the person needs to have the authority, knowledge and experience to handle all the delegates in the room. Daniel Meneses and Ricardo Perez were in Security Counsil B and Maria Paula Jimenez in Security Counsil A.

“I personally participated as a chair of a committee so I was a president and I had lots of fun. It was totally different experience because they manage everything totally different than we do here in COSMUN. But it was very academically and logistically enriching for me,” Federico Caro, Secretary General of COSMUN, said.

Students are extremely thankful for the opportunity the school gave, they say it has been one of the most enriching trips they have ever done.

“It was an unique experience, I can say that, because not everyone can say they went to the actual headquarters of The United Nations and nonetheless being a delegate,” Caro said.