Worldwide, over 103 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, violence, and persecution. What if students could shape solutions to help people forced to flee their homes?

This is the question the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, considered when they challenged Model United Nations teams worldwide to help find solutions to global concerns related to forced displacement.  This past Saturday, December 10th, Erie’s MUN team sent nine delegates to Kent Denver High School to compete in this “refugee challenge”.  Three of our students took home awards.  

Shashwat Chawla, representing Germany, won an Honorable Mention award for his work in the Climate Change and Displacement committee which sought to find a solution to the displacement of vulnerable peoples due to climate change.  

Ameenah Razi, representing the United States, won an Honorable Mention award in the Ending Statelessness committee which worked to find solutions to the stateless situation many refugees find themselves in.

Emily Park in her second conference of the year won the highest honor in her committee, Best Delegate, for her work as the delegate from Australia in a historic council that addressed the refugee situation in the aftermath of the Việt Nam War. 

Also in attendance:

• Wyatt Ball represented the United Kingdom in the Climate Change and Displacement committee.
• Natalie Woodland represented France in the Human Rights Council to establish security for  LGBTIQ+ Refugees
• Lauren Adams represented Spain in the Ending Statelessness committee 
• Claire Nguyen represented Australia in the historic council addressing the refugee situation in the aftermath of the Việt Nam War. 
• Maddox Scarpella Coet represented Singapore in the Climate Change and Displacement committee
• Zach Wieczorek represented Somalia in the Climate Change and Displacement committee.