WFUNA and ISA Join to Promote Youth Global Citizenship

NEW YORK, NY – The World Federation of United Nations Associations [WFUNA] and the International Schools Association [ISA] have signed a two-year agreement in an effort to promote the Sustainable Development Goals and global citizenship. The collaboration will leverage WFUNA’s expertise in youth engagement and ISA’s position as a leader for International Schools.

As part of the agreement, two of WFUNA’s online educational programs, the WFUNA International Model United Nations (referred to as WIMUN) and Mission Possible, will be made available to ISA member schools. The first event in which WFUNA and ISA will collaborate will be WIMUN’s Fall Online Conference that will take place from 30 October – 8 November 2020.   

WIMUN is a multi-award-winning Model UN program which offers participants the unique opportunity to learn about current global issues and the decision-making process that real diplomats follow at the UN today. Participants will have access to the most up-to-date materials and other online resources to prepare for sessions; participate in a briefing by UN (or other) experts on the agenda item assigned followed by Q&A; work with delegates from around the world to find solutions to global issues; and choose from a wide range of simulations that include the General Assembly, ECOSOC, UN Environment Assembly, Human Rights Council, Security Council, and ILO among others. In addition, students will receive training about the history of the UN body they will be simulating and the rules of procedures that it uses.

A webinar will be organized by ISA on 31 July 2020 from 10am GMT to introduce this event to the ISA community.

WFUNA’s second education program that will be made available to the ISA community is Mission Possible, which has two online programs that challenge high school students across the globe to connect virtually, collaborate across cultures and engage in meaningful action. Kick-Start Your Action: An Introduction to Global Citizenship and the SDGs is a 3-session program (6 hours total) which guides students in identifying an issue and crafting a personal action plan to address that issue. Past projects included social media campaigns, community service, and workshops building a community and addressing shared issues.

Youth Connect: Become an Agent of Change with Youth from Around the World, is an extensive program spanning over 9 weeks. Students collaborate in teams on a project that addresses one of the Sustainable Development Goals. In past projects, students have created projects such as providing care packages for orphanages and those affected by COVID-19, a community refrigerator to provide food for the homeless, and awareness campaigns on the plight of migrant workers during the pandemic. The integration of Mission Possible into ISA programming and their schools’ curriculum is scheduled to begin in May 2021; however, students are welcome to participate in this programme on an individual basis this fall. For further information, contact Isabelle Tibi ([email protected]).

WFUNA’s project aims to build the capacity of key stakeholders to be able to engage in such dialogue and to provide strategic options for defining development goals that integrate peace and security and influence government debate and policy on the topic to lead to a universal framework to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030. WFUNA is working with civil society, the academic community, media and politicians in their respective countries to develop and raise awareness on the need to integrate peace, security and conflict prevention in the agenda and encourage conversations on how this could happen.

This partnership provides an opportunity for both organizations to achieve their like-minded goals.

About WFUNA: The World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) is a global nonprofit organization established in 1946, and registered both under the laws of the State of New York of the United States of America and under the law of Geneva, Switzerland, with Category One Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council as well as Association with UN DPI, and having its office located in New York, USA. WFUNA represents and coordinates a membership of over 100 national United Nations Associations (UNAs) and their thousands of constituents. Guided by the vision of a United Nations that is a powerful force in meeting common global challenges and opportunities, WFUNA works to strengthen and improve the United Nations through the engagement of people who share a global mindset and support international cooperation – global citizens.

About ISA: The International Schools Association was founded under Swiss Law in 1951 and as such is the most senior organization in the world of international education. It is an international non-governmental organization and the first educational NGO to be granted consultative status at UNESCO. Since 1951, ISA has been dedicated to consulting and providing educators with the necessary guidance that is needed to help schools define their understanding of the term “international” in education.

The ISA works to promote international and intercultural understanding. In so doing the Association espouses a number of values – peace, freedom, equality, tolerance and the celebration of both diversity and similarity – which express for the Association the essential meaning and purpose of multiculturalism and international mindedness.