In the refugee crisis simulation, I was apart of an NGO,(non-governmental organization), known as ARM with my fellow classmates AJ, Julia, Hailey Jones, and Ithar. ARM stands for the Association for Refugees and Minorities, and the role of arm in the simulation was to try and protect the rubites refugees in safe and hospitable camps while also trying to recieve help from both sides of the issue with the rubites in order to secure the absolute security of the rubite population. For this simulation I felt unprepared going into it, (this was because I wasn’t present during the beginning phase of the simulation), but after asking my team mates for help and getting involved in the informal discussions I felt very comfortable for the rest of the simulation. My team was able to accomplish our short term goal we wanted which was getting the rubites a confirmation of hospitable camps with the countries involved helping out by sending aid money toward the issue. And then our long term goal which was finding a new permanent home for rubite population was pushed off for a second summit at a later date. The reason for the short term plan passing and not the long term was because all the groups agreed that sending aid money would defiantly help the rubite population in the camps, but there was a major argument on the idea of having a permenant home for the rubites, this topic often brought up moving people from their ancestral homes which both sides thought was wrong but the need for a place for the refugees needed much attention therefore it was put off until a second summit. I enjoyed the informal discussions during the simulation, it was interesting to walk around and discuss what people want what we’ll give for their exception, picking sides, it was just a fun and educational time given that real life issues like our probably more professional and mature but still similar in nature. adjusting to formal discussions, especially saying “the delegation of_______,” instead of saying “I”. And other than that it was trying to find something to do when we got out short term approved by both sides of the issue, after realizing that the long term was never going to be achieved at the current summit there was really nothing for ARM, and the inability to really do anything left me board because the argument for the rest of the time was extremely repetitive. Some changes I would like would to have a student UN moderator so its completely run by students, possibly add an opposing NGO the group like a anti-immigration group that extremely against the rubites, and possibly add more goals to ARM and possibly UNCHR so they have more to do when their goals are completed so students don’t feel inclined to go on their phones since they’ve completed their tasks. I learned that conflicts don’t have to arise between two states directly attacking each other it can start by groups minorities in the area and that little instance and blow up a huge conflict in which other states could possibly get involved. Also i learned that NGO’s could have voting powers if they attended the summit, before I thought states were the only one with voting power at UN events.
