Propelled by the shared passion for debate and collective determination to shape a brighter future, a selection of students from all the various programs at Gymnázium Jura Hronca (GJH) have gathered to form the secretariat of a MUN conference. After the initial conception of the values and ideals which are to stand at the very core of Bratislava Model United Nations 2023, the organising team are already tirelessly working around the clock to ensure the smooth framework of the conference. Above all, MUNs are an excellent opportunity to polish leadership, public speaking, and critical thinking skills, all invaluable in the twenty-first century. Venturing to build on the past, honour the legacy of BratMUN, and shape the future, the conference will be an experience taking place this December.

The Secretariat

Behind BratMUN’s return stands the secretariat; a community of individuals determined to persevere the values the conference has represented in the past, and create an environment fostering productive debate and elevated discourse. In what is a historically first integration of students from GJH’s national programs into the secretariat thus far comprised solely of international (IB/MYP) programs, an influx of commitment to excellence and resolve to meet high standards guarantees the exceptionality of the 20th edition of BratMUN. With a larger talent pool, the diversity of skills and world-views in the secretariat ensure that the conference remains thought-provoking, engaging, and truly, an event to remember.

A YEAR’S WORTH OF CHANGES

When organising a conference, the at times lengthy process of course has its setbacks, and in many ways each conference is a completely unique experience. While numerous positive lessons can be learned from looking to the past, a concurrent stream of innovative ideas and changes is always needed in order to assure we effectively move forward, drawing on history while building the future. As the end of the year and December, though seemingly out of sight, slowly but surely approach, it is appropriate to go over the details of what to expect from BratMUN 2023.

The application process for this year’s conference happens through Mymun, which helps us simplify the process of applications and processing delegate fees, and provide early means of effective communication before we transition to a different platform. This way, we benefit from a collaborative shared online space for all MUNs across the world and provide you with a more smooth and comfortable delegate experience.
We also managed to get our hands on a new venue. About a 15-minute walk from the previous one and equally well connected by public transit to the rest of the city, it is accessible even from more remote accommodations, and provides you with a direct link to the very centre of Bratislava’s Old Town. The new spaces are another symbol of BratMUN’s rebirth, ready to host delegates for the unforgettable experience that is an MUN conference.
Finally, since the epidemiological situation in 2020 and the subsequent years prevented BratMUN conferences from taking place, a few changes have been made to the communication platforms used by the BratMUN team. Though the official website and Facebook account remain the same, due to technical difficulties, our official Instagram account has been replaced with @bratmun2023.

SEE YOU SOON!

Our secretariat will continue to update you on any changes or news about the upcoming conference in December through this website, Mymun, and Instagram. In the meantime, go check out the committees we’ve set up on Mymun, and think about which committee you will be applying to once the delegate applications open.

See you at the General Assembly!

~Tatiana Petovská

T

Go to an enriching and educational conference and get to travel and visit another country? That is a no brainer right there. In other words, a story of how me and my friends decided to go to our first MUN.

Humble Beginning…

I got lucky, because one member of our group researched and managed all of our transport, accommodation and logistics in general. All I had to do was to be on time, listen to instructions and pay my share. So far so good.

We already knew the MUN was organized primarily for university students, but we expected some high-schoolers (like us) to be present as well. We were very wrong. Not only were there only university students, they were quite intimidating. I was in a committee with my two friends and a bunch of ambitious fellers studying international relations, law or a combination of both.

First Day

We expected a mock debate or something to get familiar with the whole MUN concept, but this did not happen. All of our committee members said they didn’t need it and were too proud (and embarrassed) to demand one.

Here I got lucky. See, I was Canada, alphabetically the third country to give their opening speech. However, my friend, Angola, was sitting on the edge and was the lucky person to have the honors of initiating the whole thing. A small country like Angola would normally say that it is present, so everyone was quite surprised when my friend boldly declared it would be present and voting. Some S-tier MUN humor right there.

The spirit of a nation in a struggling body

Then the Rest…

We were tired; our nightly social gatherings prevented sleep and invoked funny feeling of the internal at the committee sessions. France (my other friend), Canada were present and voting, but in spirit we were all only barely present. Luckily, the other delegates shared our feelings of despair.

I was surprised how quickly we all got the hang of it though. All of the lingo and procedures are scary and confusing, but as you are exposed to them for hours on end, its actually harder to unlearn them. At the restaurant, the delegate of Canada was asking the distinguished delegate of France to pass a napkin, because the pizza was really fu**ing oily.

Canada, Angola and half of France getting ready for business

Happy memories

We were the youngest people there, but apart from the nickname ‘babies’ Germany gave us, nobody even seemed to notice. Everyone represents a country and everyone is equal. This effect works also outside of the committee sessions.

Casual conversation felt rewarding and free. I learned that Iran is not actually a dipshit and that Russia is not at all that cold. Not to get too poetic, but the personal life and character of the delegates were so much more interesting and fascinating, given how much they have to hide it in the sessions.

Now of course we didn’t become friends for life, that’s not how stuff works. But we all had a great time, we had to look at things from different perspectives and collectively we something (a final resolution). If that doesn’t sound like 3-4 days well spent, I don’t know what does.

My advice for BratMUN

Ask stuff. It’s not embarrassing that You don’t know what’s going on; we’ve all been there at some point. In my case, the chair was extremely nice and helpful and You can count on that at BratMUN as well. And if that doesn’t work, just ask as, the organizers. Sometimes even the chairs have to ask, there is no shame in it.

Relax. Adhere to the rules, be polite. That doesn’t mean you need to be rude or cold. It also doesn’t mean you need to roleplay. Just enjoy the discussion, think about what you want to say and say it. Don’t worry if it is wrong, what better place to learn and improve than BratMUN.

PR aside though. MUNs are great. Be sure to try one. I will be very happy if You choose BratMUN, but I will also be happy if you are happy after going somewhere else 😊.

MUN gives you the skills to be a beacon in surrounding darkness (AND nice photos)