The Council On World Affairs is a registered Canadian non-profit, charitable corporation, dedicated to the optimum development of Canadian youth within the global community. We initiate and fund opportunities for students to maximize their potential within the competitive world framework. COWA was awarded its Letters Patent in 1991, and is administered by a nine member regional Board and an Executive Officer.

We seek to accomplish these goals through the following activities:

Ambassador:This is a student-generated world issues newsletter, published four times per year and widely distributed to public libraries, schools and conference participants, etc. We solicit articles on international relations from students at elementary, secondary and University levels. See our web page section on Ambassador.

Annual International Niagara Model United Nations (INMUN) Conference:A three-day event that attracts 400-500 students from ON, OH, PA, NY and beyond. Delegates simulate world bodies such as the International Court of Justice, General Assembly, Security Council, Islamic League, Human Rights and other committees. Comprehensive study guides are produced, distributed to competing schools and organized into teaching vehicles. Schools throughout the province of Ontario have used these guides.

Annual Elementary School Model United Nations (ENMUN) Conference:Following a one-week period of in-school instruction and another week of research, grade 7 and 8 students compete in a full-day simulation of U.N. bodies. Again, comprehensive instruction booklets are prepared along with appropriate study guides to assist the elementary students.

Clinics, Co-operative Programs, and Public Meetings:COWA helps to organize and administer pertinent educational clinics to students such as teaching curricula, University-research opportunities, speakers forums, and candidate debates at municipal, provincial and federal levels.

Essay Contests:COWA organizes and administers essay contests for students both in the elementary and secondary panel.

Fundraising:An on-going process that has assisted regional schools in the delivery of related programs. We have assisted students to compete internationally in Luxembourg, England, in the U. S. at Boston, Chicago, and Berkeley, New York and at Calgary and Ottawa in Canada.

Internet:We administer a World Wide Web site - http://www.cowac.org. This is essentially a research database compiled for the benefit of all schools and students who have access to the web. On this site, students have ready access to study guides (past and present), vital world issues research links, archived Ambassador articles and other pertinent information.

University-entrance Scholarships:Through our partnership with foundations, service clubs, business and individual donors, scholarships in excess of $50,000.00 have been awarded to top delegates in the past twelve years.

Youth Environment Camp: At Brock University, we have run a series of summer camps for elementary students wherein we focus on environmental and leadership issues.

If you want to change the world; begin with the children: Mahatma Ghandi

Return to About COWAC

Return to COWAC Main Page