Emilie O’Herne, President
When looking back at the 20th century, the young people of that age can (very) roughly be divided into three groups. The first literally fought for their nations and their beliefs; the second helped rebuild a war-torn world and initiated such global organizations as the United Nations; the third strove for equal rights and freedom of expression for all. So how will we be remembered? What will future generations see when they reflect on the youth of the first half of the 21st century? Will we be known as the ones who made all the difference, or as those who let the many opportunities given to them pass them by, uncaring about the future consequences their actions might have had?
My name is Emilie O’Herne and it is my honour and pleasure to serve as your President this January. I am currently in my second year at the University of York, reading Politics and International Relations. This will be my sixth TYA conference and I will be delighted to welcome back old friends as well as make new ones. Though all of my previous TYA conferences have been wonderful experiences, I believe this one will be truly special.
These are, after all, exciting times. The world is changing before our very eyes and now more than ever youth has the opportunity to step up and take their rightful place as global stakeholders. The THIMUN Youth Assembly aims to empower and enable youth to do exactly that: to make their voices heard, to work together and to make that difference they want to see in the world. During a week filled with interesting lectures, workshops and discussions, you will learn about global issues, project management and implementation at a community level as well as the role youth can play in both. It will be an excellent opportunity to acquire new skills or develop those you may already possess, to meet with like minded and equally devoted people and network with the many speakers we’ll entertain. By the end of the conference, we hope you will be ready to go out into the world and implement all that you have learned.
These are indeed exciting times. Let us make the most out of them and make good on the promise our generation has: to change the world for the better, and to do so in amiable discussion and peaceful consensus. Let us be remembered as the ones who made all the difference. As the leaders of tomorrow, it is the least we can do to start today.
Marinos Koulouroudias, Deputy President
My name is Marinos Koulouroudias, and it will be my honour and pleasure to serve as your Deputy President for the 14th Session of the THIMUN Youth Assembly. 2009: a year periled in uncertainty. The reality of the consequences of our predecessor’s actions and (even more important) their lack of action has never been more prominent and apparent than now. A whole financial system is on the brink of collapse plummeting with it some of the institutions we so admired. Knock on effects of the global economic slowdown are already being felt around the world, bringing with them not only economic but social and political unrest. The Nature’s Wrath, as climate change and global warming are no longer a potential threat to our well being but a REAL threat, with statistics becoming more and more gloomy, with a predicted 37% of plant and animal species being extinct by 2050. These and many more real life paradigms are making it apparent that our generation will be called to take arms against some of the greatest vices ever seen by man and deal with some of the greatest challenges our earth has ever faced.
Therefore, we are called to prove wrong all those that have labelled our generation as a generation of couch potatoes and video games, a generation of obesity, a generation of recklessness, a generation that never had to fight for its own cause. The THIMUN Youth Assembly is our medium to prove them wrong. A channel through which we can feed our OWN principles and ideas, learn to voice them and work collectively towards making this world a better and safer place to live in!
I look forward to seeing you all in the beautiful Hague at the beginning of the year 2010 and working with you to materialise your inventive initiatives hoping that our actions will have a lasting impact!
Akua Nyame – Mensah, Deputy President
When asked about why I enjoy participating in TYA, my answer is simple. It is the people – the network. It is people who have the ability to stand up and call for change. It is people who make a difference by dedicating their lives to a cause they believe in. It is people who can help you realize your objectives. These are the types of people that take part in TYA and you meet at other TYN activities. Once you participate in a TYN activity you are one of these people; part of this empowered and driven network.
My name is Akua Nyame-Mensah and I am really excited to be part of the upcoming January 2010 conference. I am in a five-year program studying Cities at Bryn Mawr College and City & Regional Planning at University of Pennsylvania. TYA 14 will be my second conference and I am looking forward to learning more about the TYA issues and being around interesting, creative and motivated individuals like you. Welcome to the network.