Georgetown University: School of Foreign Service in Qatar

On November 8, 2008, more than 135 students from universities and high schools in Doha gathered to discuss an imagined crisis in Georgia during a Model United Nations Training Day hosted at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Qatar).

The MUN Training Day serves to prepare SFS-Qatar students for their roles in chairing the nine committees represented in the SFS-Qatar sponsored MUN Conference in January 2009. While SFS-Qatar students chaired seven simultaneous sessions of the United Nations Security Council, students from Doha universities and high schools participated as delegates to one of the fifteen member states on the current UN Security Council. For many SFS-Qatar students, the MUN Training Day offered the chance to chair an MUN committee for the first time.

Besides SFS-Qatar, Northwestern University in Qatar, Qatar University, the Academic Bridge Program, American Academy, MES Indian School, Amna bint Wahab Independent Secondary School for Girls, Al Bayan Independent Secondary School for Girls, Omar bin Khattab Independent Secondary School for Boys, The Learning Center, Qatar Leadership Academy, and Middle East International School participated at the event.

Noor Al-Kobaisi (SFS ’12) participated in many MUNs at the Anglo-American School of Moscow, but Saturday was her first time chairing a committee. As the delegates were mostly first-time MUN participants, Al-Kobaisi remarked that chairing was initially quite challenging. “I thought they wouldn’t have any [resolution] clauses at first,” Al-Kobaisi said. “But slowly, they came up with them and then the committee moved faster and faster. We had one resolution that passed, with eleven clauses and many sub-clauses.”

Al-Kobaisi adds that it was especially interesting to watch delegates’ confidence grow. “People who started out as shy and timid eventually participated in the debate and added clauses to resolutions. It was a small step, but a step to something bigger. It’s a learning experience.”

Nadim Al Rifai (SFS ’12) also chaired for the first time. “Initially I faced some challenges to my authority,” Al Rifai said. “But later I stressed the necessity of professionalism. Sometimes I had to intervene [in the debate]. I asked constructive questions that would further the discussion and lead to a resolution.” Al Rifai will co-chair the Press Committee in the January MUN hosted by SFS-Qatar.

Other SFS-Qatar students decided to challenge themselves by taking on difficult delegate roles, such as that of the United States of America or Russia. While having extensive MUN experience, Basil Makhfuz (SFS ’11) decided to participate as a delegate of Russia rather than chair. “Participating as a delegate is important because students take it as an example of how to act … Especially for the January MUN, which is much more formal and demanding,” Makhfuz said.

Students agreed that the topic of a crisis in Georgia was stimulating and controversial. “The close votes were a result of deadlocked positions, but everyone did a good job debating within their position,” Makfuz said. “It was difficult to compromise, all the votes passed or failed by only one vote.”

Dana Al Kahlout (SFS ’09) served as staff, alongside other SFS-Qatar students, managing the logistics of the day and ensuring that all the committees ran smoothly. “It’s not only about organizing the number of students in the committee, it’s also about talking to students who are attending for the first time, making them feel comfortable and confident, and helping them with their research … Because I know what it’s like to be a delegate for the first time, and I know how nervous you can get,” Al Kahlout said. Al Kahlout will serve as Staff Manager in the January MUN.

SFS-Qatar MUN will take place from January 29, 2009 to February 1, 2008 in Doha, Qatar.