His Excellency Ban Ki-moon said: “It is always energising to see so many young people who are enthusiastic about, and dedicated to, global cooperation and multilateralism. Young people like yourselves represent the future of our planet. And their active engagement in transforming our world into a more sustainable and peaceful place is vital, particularly during this crisis caused by Covid-19.
“You have talents to understand this crisis as a window of opportunity to change the world for the better. You have the innovative minds, fresh ideas, energy, creativity, strong will, modern tools and motivation to make the world more peaceful and to secure a brighter future.
“I hope that the biggest takeaway for you will be ownership: ownership of the world we live in, ownership of the sustainable development goals, ownership of the Agenda 2030, ownership of the principle of leaving no one behind, and ownership of your contribution to the world, which might start small but can grow throughout your lifetime.
“I challenge you to think of yourselves as global citizens, as this can help us drop our urge to compete with one another and instead look out for our common wellbeing. You are part of the largest generation of young people the world has ever seen. Use this to your benefit. Be cooperative, not competitive. Be loud, not silent. See the common good and not only your personal gains. Let us work together to make this world better for all people – that is your, and our, moral responsibility at this time.”
Dr Saima Rana, Principal/CEO of GEMS World Academy – Dubai, said: “We are fortunate and privileged to have His Excellency Ban Ki-moon as the official Ambassador for our school’s Model United Nations. To host a statesman of his stature, with his level of experience on the global stage, and to hear him share his insights, observations and advice is an incredibly valuable learning opportunity for our students. At GEMS World Academy, we strive to develop the leaders of tomorrow – global citizens able to shape the world around them with empathy, open-mindedness and a spirit of collaboration. In this light, His Excellency Ban Ki-moon is an ideal role model for the young people in our care, and we think him for his invaluable contribution.”
Participating MUN delegates were actively engaged in discussions on the measures nations must take in order to mitigate the impacts of dire crises, as well as ways to create a more prosperous future for all segments of the global community. Students also had the chance to speak with Ban Ki-moon directly and learn from his many insights into important world affairs.
