Doha: The 11th edition of THIMUN Qatar has brought together hundreds of young delegates from around the world to discuss, explore, and propose solutions designed to help end poverty in all forms.
The four-day conference focused on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG1), as well as the issues around combating poverty in a post-pandemic era.
It was organised by the THIMUN Qatar Regional Office, which comes under Qatar Foundation’s Pre-University Education and was jointly established with the THIMUN (The Hague Model United Nations) Foundation.
H E Marjan Kamstra, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Qatar, who delivered a speech at the opening ceremony, spoke about the importance of linking the SDGs to help eradicate poverty — including quality education, gender equality, and economic growth.
She also explained how, according to the United Nations, developing countries are most at risk during, and in the aftermath, of the pandemic — both as a health crisis, and as a social and economic crisis.
“The world can use your fresh ideas for the future that really is yours – it is the world that you will be living in and leaving also for future generations,” she said in the conclusion of her delivery.
“So, I am going to ask you, even in this virtual setting, to look around you and to see all of the inspiring delegates around you that, just like you, are committed to making a difference and contributing to social change.
“I hope that you have a successful event, that you experience new things, and learn a lot these upcoming days, and that you come up with ideas that, in the future, you can put into practice.”
Giulia Pinna, an 18-year-old Italian student at Doha College, is the Secretary General of THIMUN Qatar 2022.
Highlighting the importance of tacking SDG 1 during the opening ceremony, she said: “Still nearly half of the world’s population lives in poverty, and a lack of food and clean water is killing thousands every single day of the year.
“We will not be able to solve global issues from the rooms we now sit in, but by gaining skills, knowledge, and understanding at THIMUN Qatar, we build the tools we need to sit at decision-making tables.
"We will be able to feed the hungry, wipe out disease, and give everyone in the world a chance to prosper and live a productive and rich life.”
Over the course of the conference, around 400 participants, aged 15-18, took part in the simulations of 14 UN forums. With 193 member states of the UN being represented by young people of 55 nationalities.
The students were also given the opportunity to learn about different cultures, backgrounds, opinions, and beliefs.
