Youth & World Issues Conference

 

by Joanna L. Kocsis

 

Chinese control over Tibet, female genital mutilation, and deep-rooted religious warfare between middle-eastern countries-- these aren't issues that normally concern teenagers living in Canada.  What would cause a group of over two hundred young people from Niagara to assemble for two days to learn about the horrors that face other nations? 

Fort Erie mayor, Wayne Redekop, said it best when he addressed the students at the opening ceremonies, Friday, November 16th, 2000: "When a butterfly in the Amazon rainforest flaps its wings, its impact is felt on the other side of the world."  The participants certainly embodied this concept with a passion that, if preserved, will affect their world in the years to come.

            Established over fifteen years ago by Fort Erie councilman and local teacher, Mike Keenan, Model United Nations in Niagara and COWAC (The Council on World Affairs) has brought awareness to world issues to the young people of this region.  This year the traditional three-day competitive debate was replaced by a two-day workshop geared for transition years' elementary students and new debaters. 

Niagara MUN alumni, mainly University students but also some grads, led a series of workshops to improve specific skills employed by debaters.  As an experienced debater and an older high school student, I was skeptical about how productive the conference would be.  I must confess that it proved to be very constructive for me as well as for the rest of those in attendance. The seminar topics were extremely valuable and applicable to daily life.  I shall outline them in the order in which they were experienced.

Of the six 'How to' focuses, the first, Leadership and Team Building Skills, used humour and games to highlight the attributes of a good leader/team member.  We began by playing a game like charades, trying, in a group, to communicate a single word to our peers using only actions.  Mark Modolo (Waterloo grad) and Donna Kollee (Guelph grad) handed out booklets entitled " So what's up with this whole leadership thing?" which took students step by step through qualities important in people who wish to be good leaders.  In a group, we discussed the three types of leadership: Authoritarian, Democratic, and Laissez-faire.  We also discovered the benefits and downfalls of each style of leadership.  Being former MUN participants from Denis Morris and Holy Cross, one got the feeling that both Donna and Mark were professionals in this field. 

The types of students who attend MUN functions are generally the take-charge type, which makes teamwork anything but effortless.  Therefore, we took some time to be educated about being a team player.  After learning that all roles in a team are as important as that of the leader, we formed groups again and had another attempt at the miming game. With comments from Mark and Donna, and the knowledge we had just acquired, we were able to re-evaluate our team participation skills and build more functional teams.  Some of us realized that occasionally one might have to play a more subdued role in a group, but this by no means signifies diminished importance or capabilities.

Kelly Keenan (UBC grad) led the next seminar on "How to develop an argument".  She started with an entertaining Monty Python film clip demonstrating how not to develop an argument.  We were then given a topic: British repossession of the U.S. due to their failure to elect a leader.  We argued this topic for two minutes and then Kelly gave the group some pointers.  "Place your strongest argument first," she suggested, "your second strongest last, with the other material in between".  This, she explained, ensures that you won't run out of time without having demonstrated your best point.  We got a chance to use our new tactic in groups of four discussing human rights.  The improvement was encouraging.

Our final event of the Friday evening was entitled "Conflict Resolution".  Led by the secretary-general of COWAC, Chris Pang (UWO) and Rob Walters. (now a labour lawyer) It dealt with effective ways of solving disagreements.  This was probably the one that demanded the most participation by students.  We were given different positions and allowed to work out our troubles.  We then decided on some ways to improve our technique and tried again.  Again, after some help, the difference was tremendous. 

On Saturday morning after a wonderful keynote speech by Dr. Miriam Lapp from U.W.O. (see article), we started with "Gender Issues".  Theresa Chan (U of T) and Sarah Lesnieski (U of T) provided appalling information regarding the treatment of women today. Statistics about abuse and inequality were shocking, and really got the group motivated to work.  The interconnection of the world's major problems was effectively displayed by Theresa's activity.  This began with each person being assigned a problem, and joining arms with someone else whose problem they felt linked with.

Andrew Thomson (Ottawa) and Ryan Gilliam (U of T), both first Year University students, led "How to use Blocs, and Lobby".  Fresh from Model UN debate themselves, they certainly had a good idea how to win friends and influence people.  Aided by the artistic talents of Ryan and Andrew's dramatics, students learned that aggression might be important in getting noticed, but good strategy accounts for a lot as well.

            "How to speak effectively" was demonstrated by Jason Rehel (McGill)and Vinai Bhagirath (McMaster). After examining the style of popular culture's favorite variety show hosts, Conan O'Brien and David Letterman, as well as Canada's most popular Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, we learned the basic steps of public speaking. Preparation, Relaxation, Clarity and Personality were emphasized throughout.  One really got the sense that both presenters might become famous speakers someday!

            "Resolution and working paper writing" was taught by two accomplished debaters.  Alex Colangelo (UWO) and Ryan Sills (UWO), top delegate winner at Harvard's World  MUN in Greece, took us through the technical steps involved in writing an effective resolution, working paper and position paper.

            One of the most compelling workshops and certainly one of the most appealing to teenagers was "Music and World Issues". Andy Sawada (a teacher) and Jennifer Hollett (CTV host) added a personal touch to it with their anecdotes about the Tibetan Freedom Concerts and other experiences that they've had in the area of music and world issues.  Jennifer can be seen on a television show called "Chat room" in which people discuss current issues. This undoubtedly gave her an upper hand on the subject. We got to plan and present an idea for a benefit for the issue of our choice.  Students did seem to get caught up in the excitement of it all. I hope that this taste for what it's like to help people in a creative way sticks.

Chris Bittle (Queen's) and Shannon-Marie Soni (Canadian Foreign Service) passed on valuable knowledge they have gained from years of experience in the field of "Research". In this session, we learned how to distinguish dependable sources of information and those with extreme bias. We also learned that all resources will have some bias and that we must figure out what it is before we evaluate the information. Thanks to Chris and Shannon-Marie and their expertise, my independent study essay will be that much better!

            On the whole, the conference was an excellent learning experience. The knowledge gained and skills acquired will definitely be useful, not only in Model United Nations debating but also in daily life. The lessons were all based on one of the most important aspects of education, experience. All presenters were young adults who had the advantage of knowledge gained through their years of education, but also, were able to relate to the mindsets of people between the ages of twelve to eighteen. 

As a student, Canadian, and as a human being sympathetic to the living conditions and future of our peers worldwide, I was proud of the amount of interest displayed on that cold weekend in November. For as long as I've been attending COWAC it has been a custom of Mother Nature to grant us debaters and the city of Fort Erie the first snow storm of the year as we open debate. This year we thought it might not occur. But sure enough, on Saturday evening as we made

our way from the Town Hall to the Holiday Inn for closing ceremonies, the flakes began to flutter down and carpet the ground. 

After we had cleared the windshield with our complimentary mouse pads, on our way home through the first blizzard of the season, I reflected on the event that had just taken place.  I thought about the great number of students who gave up their weekend to learn more about what they can do to make a difference, and said to myself:  'I know that we can do it. I know that with the passion I saw this weekend, with the privilege of education, the youth of Canada can be counted on to change this world for the better.  We will do Canada proud, because we are reliable and as dependable as that snow that blesses COWAC every November.'