As an active participant in Model UN conferences, I have always wondered what goes on behind the scenes of the three days of diplomatic debate and problem-solving. As I became a more seasoned participant, I began to actively involve myself in these processes, but never as a primary organizer. To gain some insight on the world of Model UN, its implications and its execution, I interviewed Abhiram Reddy, Secretary-General of OakMUN 2015. OakMUN is India’s largest school Model UN conference, and being able to work with Mr. Reddy as the conference’s Crisis Director and learn from him and his team was a blessing and a fountain of knowledge that I believe deserves to be shared.
Q: What motivated you to work towards becoming the Secretary-General of OakMUN?
A: Four years ago I attended my first Model United Nations conference in Mumbai. To say that the experience was transformative would be a severe understatement. Within hours the carefully executed statements and meticulously crafted resolutions became my favorite melodies and paintings. I saw inherent magnificence in diplomacy and the potential it had for revolution. Leading the entire conference was a person that worked tirelessly to create an event that left each and every delegate with the power to change the world. Coming out of a rather turbulent year, that first conference showed me how rewarding and challenging the position of Secretary-General could be. My ambition had been kindled and I was ready to work towards sparking change in my world.
Q: Rate the difficulty of planning out the conference and take us through some of the most difficult parts of it.
A: Ask anyone who worked on the conference and I highly doubt that someone would say "it was easy." Planning OakMUN consumed my life for an entire year, in the best way. My team and I spent hours every day going over the tiniest details. They became a second family, which was essential to have considering the problems we faced. . Companies were reluctant to sponsor a student-run endeavor and often times we’d have to sit through weeks of negotiation to end up flat. Although we eventually raised close to $100,000, the constant rejection was always a major obstacle. We faced difficulties attracting delegates — ensuring that we garnered a large number of delegates was pivotal to measuring our success. We spent weeks on the phone with schools from across the world only to find that their yearly examinations were scheduled on exactly our conference dates. Altering our approach caused considerable changes in our results.
Extending our reach to schools that had yet to establish MUN communities and bringing in influential executive board members from across the nation encouraged registrations. Reaching out to organizations that were personally relevant to our audience, such as universities and sporting companies, helped raise funds. Over time I began to realize that adaptability and open-mindedness were keys to progression. All of these plot twists were frustrating for sure, but I knew that optimism and innovative solutions were the best paths forward. I discovered that oftentimes it was in the conference’s best interest to initiate new approaches. Each interaction with my team presented me with a chance for my opinions to be challenged. I was not always right and accepting that allowed me to make breakthroughs in my work.
Q: Some argue that MUNs are places where only speculation and brainstorming of revolutionary ideas take place, but no actual execution and therefore, play absolutely no part in bettering society. What are your thoughts on this particular take on MUNs?
A: To an extent that’s true. Many delegates attend MUNs to socialize and even more so limit the knowledge and skills they've gained. However, simulation doesn't mean that the activity is useless. MUNs convey important communication and analysis skills that are used passively in everyday life and every profession one could strive towards. They bring together thousands of students from around the world to engage in conversation, which is bound to lead to the exchange of cultures and ideas. Naturally some delegates are going to be more affected than others, but execution is not the primary goal of a MUN. The ideas that are formulated may never be implemented, but by affecting the lives of our planet's youth we are already changing lives. Our generation is going into the world primed to make a difference. In a way it's like an investment; we are putting resources and hope into the future. Maybe it's fruitless, but if even one child has been inspired to make change then I believe the purpose of the activity has been not only fulfilled but exceeded.
Q: If you could plan the MUN out all over again, what would you change or how would you improve the process?
A: I would definitely go into the conference with a little less ambition if that makes sense. When we began to plan the conference, we initially set this lofty goal of a 1000 delegates. Although that was an incredible motivator it somewhat distracted me from a lot of other aspects of the conference. Changing the dates of the conference may have given even more children the opportunity to participate. In the end we did not hit that number yet I was still satisfied with the outcome of the conference. Ultimately I would not change much. The experiences that I had were beneficial; both the good and bad ones. In life I think it’s better to understand that the past cannot be changed, but we can make the choice to actively learn from it and use it to change our future.
Q: Finally, if you could give two pieces of advice to upcoming MUNners, what would they be?
A: No matter what happens during your MUN journey, I would highly advise any MUNner to always continue to have fun. The work you're doing is important, but if you don't have a passion for it then it's honestly not worth it. Live your life to the fullest and take advantage of the few short years you have. It's better to be happy than be successful (that's not to say that those paths are exclusive). If you are enjoying what you're doing, that's great! Make sure that you always keep in mind that these are a part of your life, not its entirety. Keep MUNning and leave yourself open to the possibilities of new experiences and spectacular relationships. It'll definitely be a wild ride and I wish you all the best!
