UN Youth is a non-profit organisation that provides civics education outside the traditional classroom context. Through workshops, Model United Nations and outreach events, secondary and tertiary students are engaged in the most pressing affairs of their country and the international community.
To apply for an Ambassador role, all applicants had to submit their answers to several questions, largely focused on their own experiences with UN Youth, and a CV.
Once the applications had been sent, the UN Youth Auckland Regional Council Members offered interviews for those applicants they wished to further assess and get to know. The UN Youth Ambassador Programme looked for students who passionately share the UN Youth vision and presented themselves with ambassadorship.
UN Youth objectives are inspiring to young people, and the Model United Nations events are both stimulating and motivational. The non-profit organisation offers an invaluable experience to students in New Zealand. Since commencing high school, both Hye-Song and Michael have been able to take advantage of both regional and national events, and as a result have developed an eagerness for their own global citizenship.
UN Youth exemplifies the Round Square democracy principles; educating young leaders on the workings of a fair democratic and diplomatic society, and encouraging freedom of thought and speech. Model United Nations is an extra-curricular activity offered at King's College, which Hye-Song and Michael will be leading this year.
As Ambassadors, Hye-Song and Michael will be the representatives of UN Youth New Zealand at King's College. An extension of the UN Youth's Auckland Regional Council, they will be responsible for fulfilling UN Youth's policies of education, inclusion and volunteership. In these roles, they will be working to increase the presence of UN Youth at King's College and networking in the Auckland region to empower the voices of high school students.
Both Hye-Song and Michael are grateful for the opportunity to fulfill their roles as Ambassadors for 2016, and we wish them all the very best.
