Students from John Paul II Catholic School recently attended a Model United Nations (Model UN) event hosted by the World Affairs Council in Hilton Head. The guest speaker, Mona Yacoubian, gave a talk titled “Is Peace Possible in the Middle East?” She shared her knowledge and experiences to help the audience understand the challenges and opportunities for peace in the region.
Why Model UN Matters
Model UN is a special club where students learn about world issues, how countries work together, and how to solve global problems. "In Model UN, students practice public speaking, research, and teamwork while learning how to think critically about the world," said JPII history and government teacher Bill Damude. "It gives them the chance to act like diplomats, solve problems, and work together to find solutions."
Being part of Model UN helps students see the world from different perspectives. It teaches them how to understand other people’s ideas and find ways to agree. These lessons are important as students grow into caring, informed leaders in an interconnected world.
What Students Gain
Model UN helps students in many ways:
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Better Communication Skills: Students learn to speak clearly and share their ideas with confidence.
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Problem-Solving: Researching global issues teaches them how to analyze problems and find solutions.
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Teamwork: Working with others from different backgrounds helps them appreciate different viewpoints and collaborate effectively.
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Leadership Skills: Representing countries and managing group discussions helps students grow as leaders.
At John Paul II Catholic School, these skills align with the school’s mission to promote faith, knowledge, and service.
About Mona Yacoubian
Mona Yacoubian is an expert on the Middle East, with years of experience working in international relations and helping to solve conflicts. She is a Senior Advisor at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), where she focuses on finding peaceful solutions in the Middle East and North Africa. Before this, she worked at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Stimson Center.
Ms. Yacoubian’s deep knowledge and experience make her well-qualified to discuss whether peace is possible in the Middle East. "During her talk, she explained the causes of conflict, how other countries play a role, and ways to work toward peace," said Mr. Damude. "She made difficult ideas easy to understand and left a lasting impression on our students."
JPII students attending included: Cypress Daniel, Anson Daniel, Millie Cornejo, Ryan Bertagna, Karoline Rustad, Leo Iskandar, Aadi Patel, Trenton LaFountain, Michael Fitzgibbons, Abby Clark, Delilah Waite-kerns, Lili Lutheran, Alex Hahn, and Isabella Perez