KUWAIT, March 22 (KUNA) -- Life as we know it is built upon collectives; the input of a society is majestic in comparison to those of radical individuals. With these words, the opening session of the Model United Nations (MUN) conference kicked off here Wednesday evening.

Playing the role of UN General Assembly President, student of Bayan Bilingual School (BBS) Ahmad Al-Shimmiri said in his speech, "Values. Ethics. These words signify who we are, and our intelligence is measured by how we defend them."

Addressing MUN delegations, he said the world was "in dire need" of a universal forum such as that provided by the UN, and those present in the hall "echo its (UN) message - amplify it to the masses."

As for BBS student Sara Al-Muzaini, who played the role of UN Secretary General, she explained in her speech that the MUN was a promising project offered by international schools that "not only gave students an insight into international issues, but also helped them put their differences aside."

She said the main goal of such an activity was to "to achieve global teamwork."

The four-day MUN conference, sponsored by Mohammad Jassem Al-Marzouq, is being held in Kuwait at an international level for the first time, bringing together 400 students from schools in Kuwait, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.

Two BBS students, Nouriya Al-Saqer and Sara Al-Muzaini, have organized the conference as part of their high school graduation project.

Taking part are students from 11 Kuwaiti schools, Kuwait University, and the American University in Kuwait, as well as 25 students from Lebanon, 15 from Nigeria, 20 from Pakistan, and 15 from Saudi Arabia.

MUN is a simulation education activity where students research a country, take on roles as foreign diplomats of that country, and participate in a simulated session of an inter-governmental organization.

In the closing ceremony, slated for Saturday, Kuwait's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Abdullah Murad is expected to attend, as well as Director of Kuwait's Diplomatic Institute Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Sharikh, alongside political science professors Ghanim Al-Najjar and Lubna Al-Qadhi.

Simulated sessions include a disarmament conference, as well as session of the environmental, human rights, and social committees. The case of Japan versus North Korea will be the case argued at the simulated International Court of Justice.

By Eman Al-Awadhi