Letter from the Secretary-General
Dear friends,
We live in interesting times. Young people have many chances and occasions to express themselves, to engage, to fight for the causes they believe in. The communications revolution and more affordable travel means have created the room for many young people to experience and know more than what the previous generations had the chance to. Given that there are so many opportunities, why should you decide to attend the second edition of the Lebanon International Model United Nations Conference?
Because attending an MUN is always a rewarding experience, and LEBIMUN is no exception. If you like diplomacy and international affairs, you get the chance to put into practice what you learned in school and experience what you read on newspapers. If you like to stand up and argue, you get the chance to defend a state or organizations’ policies and priorities. If you like to experience intercultural exchange, you have the chance to meet people from all over the world, with different backgrounds and life stories. And all of this having fun! Whether you are studying international law, business, medicine or engineering, attending an MUN is an experience that broadens your mindset and gives you more tools to understand what goes on in the world.
For me, participating in and organizing MUNs has not only been the occasion to improve my diplomatic skills, learn about how to manage an event with international attendance, and acquire more knowledge about a wide range of topics. It has also been a great excuse to travel, explore new places or visit old friends. And Lebanon is a fantastic destination, a small country, a strip of land that hosts a fascinating mix of cultures, religions and people; not to mention the delicious food, a vibrant intellectual life, and welcoming people. It is also a country that suffered severe wounds, with its recent history of wars and conflicts. But most of all, Lebanon is a country that has been steadily walking the path of national reconciliation and peace.
So, from the above, you should have no more doubts about why attending LEBIMUN is a great enriching and challenging opportunity. For those who already have MUN experience, it is the chance to help build the most promising MUN conference in the Middle East. If you are a raw young adherent, it is your occasion to learn, try, put yourself out there. But for both, experienced and inexperienced, it is the consciousness of being part of a process that since 2009 has contributed to planting the seed of understanding in a part of the world where peace is not just a slogan but a real goal to achieve day by day, with patience, courage and vision.
I look forward to welcoming you at LEBIMUN 2010!
Caterina Luciani
LEBIMUN 2010 Secretary-General