Jr. Model United Nations
JANUARY - MAY 2025
Jr. Model United Nations charges students with solving global issues through role playing the Untied Nations General Assembly. Over the course of five months, students attend three different conferences that teach them how to become global thinkers and leaders.
Program Model:
Middle School Membership
Schedule:
Multiple Conference Dates
January – May 2025
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The only Model United Nations program in the Philadelphia region for middle schoolers, our Jr. Model United Nations program gives students the opportunity to solve real world issues as United Nations delegates. Each student is assigned a country to represent and a topic of global importance to research. At the Final Conference, students role play the General Assembly.
In the 2024 – 25 school year, student delegates will research The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 5 – Reducing Gender Inequality and 16 – Building Peaceful and Inclusive Societies.
Students from under-resourced Philadelphia schools can receive coaching on essential Model UN skills from college and adult Mentors. Through weekly classroom visits from January to May students practice public speaking, resolution writing and global literacy skills. For college Mentors, Global Smarts can count as an internship or course credit.
Program Goals
GLOBAL LITERACY
Students deepen their understanding of world geographies, histories and cultures
RESEARCH AND WRITING
Students research global topics and write policy resolutions
CRITICAL THINKING
Students examine topics from multiple global perspectives
DIPLOMACY AND DEBATE
Students understand the role of diplomacy in international relations
PROBLEM SOLVING
Students practice conflict resolution, collaboration and cross-cultural communication skills
CULTURAL DIPLOMACY CONFERENCE
January 16 & 17
9:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Students immerse themselves in the Jr. Model UN journey with a museum visit focused on art and artifacts of cultures around the world and a diplomacy keynote from World Affairs.
PREPARATORY CONFERENCE
March 3, 4, 5, 6
9:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Temple University
Students gain the essential tools they need to become diplomats and delegates through a resolution workshop, parliamentary procedure practice and a lesson on their assigned topic.
FINAL CONFERENCE
May 12, 14, 15, 16
9:30 AM – 1:45 PM
Temple University
Students step into the shoes of United Nations delegates and role-play the United Nations General Assembly, generating solutions on global topics through the perspective of their assigned country.
PROGRAM TIMELINE
SEPTEMBER
Program Registration Opens
OCTOBER
Program Registration Closes
JANUARY
Cultural Diplomacy Conference
MARCH
Preparatory Conference
MAY
Final Conference
SEPTEMBER
Program Registration Opens
OCTOBER
Program Registration Closes
FEBRUARY
Cultural Diplomacy Conference
MARCH
Preparatory Conference
MAY
Final Conference
SEPTEMBER
Program Registration Opens
OCTOBER
Program Registration Closes
JANUARY
Cultural Diplomacy Conference
MARCH
Preparatory Conference
MAY
Final Conference
VENUE PARTNERS
Philadelphia Museum of Art
GLOBAL SMARTS MENTORING PROGRAM SPONSORS
The Global Smarts Mentoring Program matches college-aged mentors with student cohorts from under-resourced middle schools to support their participation in Jr. Model UN. Through weekly classroom visits from January to May, mentors coach students on public speaking, global competencies, research skills, and debate to help students shine at the final conference
Barbara and Patrick Bagley
Terri Morrison
Leo Niessen Jr. Charitable Trust
Temple University
Spark Therapeutics
St. Joseph’s University