Students of Jeddah-based Advanced Generations School (AGS) held a mock United Nations General Assembly as part of its first UN Day recently.
The day was held at the culmination of two months of study about the world and the UN and also utilizing the opportunity to express solidarity with the Palestinian people. Students showed their support by collecting food and clothing to be sent to Palestine.
The celebrations were held in all the three sections of AGS. In the kindergarten section, parents heard their children singing songs from nations they had been learning about. In the girls and boys sections, each grade selected a continent to focus on and then each class studied a country within that continent.
The boys section held a mock UN General Assembly which began with a surah from the Holy Qur’an recited by Ismail Sofrata, a grade 4 student. Raazik Nakhwa, a grade 6 student from South Africa, presented a speech as Secretary General. He spoke about the role and functions besides briefly tracing the origins of the UN — from the adoption of its charter to the modern day. He then called upon ‘delegates’ from the countries chosen by the various classes to make their presentations.
Omar Sayed and Acer Hafiz from grade 4 represented Peru and gave a brief background of their country and the role it played in the UN. Grade 5 students Mohammed Jehani, Yousef Akeil, Firas Batwa represented Mexico, Jamaica and Haiti. They spoke about their countries and their contribution, role and active participation in the UN and various other UN bodies.
The delegate from South Korea, Fahad al Suwailan, spoke about the role his country in the UN and mentioned the efforts and contributions of the current Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon. Japan was represented by Mohammed Nahari who spoke of contributions to the UN both financially as well as UN peace-keeping missions around the globe.
Grades 1– 6 children of the girls section participated in a Parade of Nations. In all, 24 nations were represented by the children in costumes that showcased the traditional dress of the nation their class had studied.
Representatives of the French, Indonesian and Indian embassies attended the parade. Mrs. Joanna McIntosh, Director of Schools at AGS, said: “It was extremely gratifying to see the support from our AGS parent community for the Palestinians, the cooperation of the staff and also the new direction the school is moving in under the new leadership team,” she said.
Advanced Generations School marks UN Day
