Every year since 2016, students from different public and private schools have shown considerable enthusiasm and interest for the Model of United Nations (MUN) debate, which takes place in August and is hosted by the Superior School of Economics and Business (ESEN) located in San Salvador, where graduates excel in their studies and attain their goals. MUN is an educational simulation where students become representatives of different nations in the United Nations, taking action on global issues and crises. MUN ESEN 2024 was hosted in collaboration with the Model of the European Union (MUE), enhancing the participants’ critical thinking, debate skills, and effective research skills on the prompt directly related to the nation, assigned by discussing and informing themselves on different worldwide problems and how they can build a resolution. The Model embodies a distinct philosophy emphasizing Leadership, Diplomacy, and Negotiation, taking place during 4 sessions from December 2nd to December 5th in 2024 including Walte school, Lamatepec, Liceo Francés, and García Flamenco, where different committees were assigned individually to each participant based on their interests by the General Secretary involving the issues taken over by the United Nations, the European Union, and the Organization of American States. Individual students who do not represent a school are allowed to apply for MUN-MUE ESEN by just paying the fee, which is $50For students who are unable to pay the fee, there is a "MUN for Everyone" program. Interested students participate in a simulation of the Model United Nations (MUN) and are evaluated for the chance to be selected to participate in MUN-MUE without any cost.The 2024 MUN-MUE ESEN focused on issues discussed by the organizations involved. It was developed through 8 committees distributed in each organization. The topics presented in the European Union included Commissions for Science and Technology for Development (Integration and governance of artificial intelligence in education for a sustainable future), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (The Gaza Strip refugee crisis), and AGENDA 2025 – Crisis (Global Cyberwarfare: A New Cold War). As for the European Union, the committees included the European Council (Separatist movement in Europe), the European Parliament (Innovation and digital economy in European Union), the European Central Bank (Preventive policies for financial stability in the EU), and the Crisis in the European Union (Augmented reality: a massive crisis). The Committee of the Organization of American States was also the General Assembly (Venezuela: economic and humanitarian collapse).  

La Floresta has been invited to form part of the simulation with a delegation of 16 students applied to attend MUN–MUE ESEN through an application form in which they chose their top three nations and committees. Days later, the organization informed them which nation they would represent and which committee they would be participating in, whether it was focused on crises or a general assembly committee. On the first day, 8 schools were present at ESEN's auditorium for the opening ceremony, and each committee presented themselves and shared their position on their assigned topic for the next 3 days. The committees that focus on crises receive past, present, and future-like situations every hour or half an hour with unexpected events that could change the position of some nations according to the development of each crisis. The challenges require the delegates to use their quick critical thinking to make the right decisions, form beneficial alliances, and speak when it is necessary. Conversely, the general assembly committees focus on one or two crises each day, in which delegates are asked to analyze and settle global problems every 24 hours. 

The event started at 8:00 am and continued until 5:30 pm, except for the final day when delegates convened at 3:00 pm for the closing debate. Delegates were provided with coffee breaks and a lunch period every day. During the first day, delegates formed alliances with the representatives of each nation according to what was best for their nation’s interests to form a resolution for the crises discussed in each session and benefit each other. The first debate session took place on this day, and the discussion started. Throughout the second and third days, the debate continued, and delegates had to adapt to all the changes happening during each session, negotiate with each other, and come up with effective solutions to the crises proposed by the table in charge. At the end of the third day, the crisis committee delegates had to work on a final directive paper per crisis in which they form adequate treaties to prevent future problems and accidents. Separately from the directive papers for the general assembly committees, delegates demanded to compose a resolution paper to solve the crises that were presented during the three days. On the fourth and last day, the delegates had their last session where they presented their resolutions, and attended the closure ceremony, where the most outstanding delegates were awarded. 

Delegates for MUN-MUE ESEN 2024, photo from: @munesen

The school’s delegates gave an outstanding performance during the simulation, giving important From the European Council Committee, Teresa Cardenal and María Fernanda Abarca won the Delegate of Honor and Negotiation awards. From the Science and Technology Committee, Miranda Escobar and Jennifer Quesada won the Leadership and Diplomacy awards. From the Crises Agenda 2050 Committee, Valentina Guzmán won the Leadership Award. Mia Luna won an Honorable Mention while participating in the European Union Virtual Reality Crisis Committee. From the OEA: Crisis on Venezuela Committee, Valeria López and Ana Paola Alfaro won the Negotiation and Diplomacy awards. Finally, María Renée Colón participated in the Monetary Fund Committee and won the Leadership award. These achievements showcase La Floresta delegates’ skills in problem-solving and critical thinking, providing an enriching and realistic experience of the United Nation’s duty. This year, we invite everyone to participate in the MUN-MUE simulation, which will take place in august.