Local pupils shine in international arena
Their leadership skills were tested when they were challenged to come up with solutions to problems faced by UN member states.
MBOMBELA – Two pupils from Penryn College have continued to earn respect among their peers for excelling in the Model United Nations Debate in the United States.
Thando Mathebula and Maru Attwood, and Candice Morelo and Nthabelo Khoza from Sitintile Secondary school in Matsulu, participated in the competition as Team Mpumalanga recently.
They were honoured with a trophy for being the “small outstanding delegation”.
Also read: Penryn pupils dig deep for rhinos
Their leadership skills were tested when they were challenged to come up with solutions to problems faced by UN member states. The problems included violence, xenophobia and the conflicts in Syria.
They were special guests of Trevor Noah’s Daily Show, and got to walk in the streets of Broadway, visit Times Square, Central Park and sang Shosholoza in Washington.
In August 2016 the team won the provincial leg of the competition. It went on to win the national finals in Cape Town last year.
Also read: Pupils produce wines of distinction
Thando, who was the youngest in the team, said she was intimidated because everyone else was experienced in debating.
“I never used to do debating. My interests were in public speaking. But when my peers asked me to join the team, I just couldn’t say no,” she said.
Thando said she learned that hard work does pay off and that the youth can do anything.
“The experience has helped me a lot. Besides school work, it has taught me integrity, patience, concentration and most of all, confidence. I would like to thank Education Africa for allowing me to have such an experience. It was truly wonderful,” she said.
Maru said she did not know much about Model UN when she signed up. She later realised that it was a great platform to learn.
“I was told that it was a kind of debating and I loved that. I got involved and discovered that it is much more than just a good argument,” she said.
The grade 11 pupil added that the debate opened her eyes concerning history, politics and global issues.
“My participation has taught me something vital; critical thinking. Looking at policies that were created by world leaders from the viewpoint of a high school student and finding ways to improve on those policies takes some serious analysis,” she concluded.
