We were all set for another lackluster “SDG Briefing” with MUN Impact students from Nigeria. At least that’s what the MUN@Home mentorship teams had planned for our weekly Saturday zoom call. However, we had a feeling that this “SDG Briefing” would be much more than the title we gave it. The students from MUN Impact Nigeria were some of the most unique and insightful individuals we have come across.
MUN Impact Nigeria itself was founded about six months ago by educator Ayotunde Aboderin, with the goal of introducing the SDGs and Model UN to students ages 10-25 around Nigeria. In six short months the initiative has reached over 17 clubs in over 17 schools. What makes MUN Impact Nigeria so unique and fuels its rapid growth is the dedication and passion of its students. And it is these spirited individuals that raised the excitement of our typical zoom meetings.
After each mentoring cohort had a brief meeting to discuss upcoming assignments and engage face-to-face, all of the 300+ MUN@Home participants came together to learn from the MUN Impact Nigeria students about their personal experiences with the Global Goals. As each student presented his or her perspective on certain goals, the chat lit up with questions. I, like the rest of the participants, was inspired. It was clear to me how passionate they were about advancing the SDGs. I wanted to soak up every ounce of knowledge I could from their experiences in a country half a world away.
One of the most profound experiences was hearing one student discuss her perspective in Yoruba, her native Nigerian dialect. I smiled to myself in that moment, finally understanding the ostensibly abstract concepts of connection, globalization, and inspiration. I wanted to capture that moment in my mind and remember it forever as a testament to what we, the youth, were able to accomplish amidst one of the most unprecedented global catastrophes of the modern era.
The dialogue that emerged between the Nigerian delegates and the rest of the MUN @ Home participants soon morphed into full fledged “open mic” discussion on COVID-19. One by one, students took the floor and shared how the coronavirus pandemic has affected their own lives. They shared their suggestions for world leaders in and out of their home countries and expressed frustrations with current policy. In just an hour, I had traveled from Nigeria, to France, Taiwan, Singapore, and to Afghanistan–all from the comfort of my own bedroom. I also noticed that amidst the virus’ turmoil and chaos, we were undoubtedly united. We were connected by the same hardships despite the expansive seas and deep valleys that separated us. I never knew I would be able to relate on such a personal level to the life of a peer living in Egypt. But there we were, bonding over school closures, sick family members, and economic loss.
What was meant to be an “SDG Briefing,” turned out to be a global dialogue. MUN@Home undoubtedly made one of the most disastrous periods of time uplifting, enriching and hopeful.