33 Ribston students were part of the International Model UN project. Ribston, along with 13 other schools from China, Kenya and the UK, each represented a country and took part in debates to try and pass the resolutions set by the “real” UN during last year’s COP29 talks.

In the three weeks leading up to the event, students met regularly to research the country they were representing — Mauritius — and to understand how climate change is affecting the country in terms of deforestation, plastic pollution, sustainability in fashion, carbon production and financing adaptations. They explored Mauritius’ economic position, environmental vulnerabilities and political priorities in order to represent the country accurately and responsibly.

The day itself required students to think quickly, listen carefully and respond thoughtfully as debates developed. They used a variety of skills including teamwork, leadership, public speaking, empathy and critical thinking, working collaboratively to negotiate, challenge and support proposed resolutions.

We were so proud of the way they conducted themselves in the debating sessions and gained the confidence to argue points that would not necessarily be beneficial to Mauritius, but reflected the complex realities of international politics.

We hope they now have a better understanding of global issues and the challenges of reaching agreement on matters that affect countries in very different ways.

Well done to all our Ribston students who took part. We are incredibly proud of them — our future leaders in the making!