Hello again fellow UN Youth Facili-slay-tor! I present to all of you the very much delayed second edition of the newsletter! Much like the first newsletter, this patience-tester indeed took many more than a few weeks to produce, but also, like the previous newsletter, a whole lotta fun to make.
The other exec members have heard me numerous times refer to this slow cooker stew as both, contrastingly, my thorn and bud; well, in the upcoming meeting, I am sure you are able to guess what I will mention as my rose �� ; ).
As I look through the unfortunately-timed pictures of volunteers caught in a candid moment, snaps of some questionable dishes that don’t appear edible, and the most wholesome group of smiles in the organisation, I can’t help but feel a bit of FOMO not attending our in-person delegate-attending events ��. HOWEVER, for those of you who share my FOMO, consider this a virtual backstage pass to the wonderful world of UN Youth!
This newsletter is your chance to peek behind the curtain and see the heart and soul of our organization – the amazing people who make it all happen �� From the beachside bonding to the late-night noodle sessions, State Conference was a whirlwind adventure that solidified the incredible spirit of our facilitators. So, grab some popcorn (or questionable cafeteria food, we won't judge!), settle in, and get ready to experience the UN Youth magic (minus the questionable fashion choices, hopefully)!
This newsletter is just a taste, and for those craving the full experience (especially the delicious-looking cafeteria food, hopefully!), be sure to join me at the upcoming events (Evatt, anyone? ) ��
Fran G
NSW DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS 2024
Let's face it, everyone was aware of the impending State Conference, not just Rehansa and Eamon (may God bless their selfless hearts!). These months were jam-packed with events, from preparing for the storied Evatt Competition (aka the Mod UN battle royale!) to extending a warm welcome to new volunteers and bidding adieu to our treasured Lazmi. With State Conference just around the corner, the focus shifted to finalizing logistics, registrations, and that all-important post-conference social (Glebe Hotel, anyone?). Education outreach was also in high gear, with visits to Sydney Girls High and Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts on the horizon. And let's not forget the Evatt competition – schools were being contacted, and the comms team was crafting the perfect pre-registration hype machine.
STATE CONFERENCE: NO WI-FI, ALL FUN - PERFECT FOR SURVIVOR... OR MAYBE TRIVIA?
a snippet of Jess L’s unfortunate meal
ffering sunset walks by the beach, the chance to ‘dance the night away’, and a midnight noodles sesh, State Conference was truly an escape from the everyday �� . The conference
kicked off with facilitators old and new, bonding at the beach with biryani. Watching the setting of the sun and the waves crashing the shore �� , State Conference was the epitome of peace. That was until Saturday arrived �� Saturday came crashing through the door, demanding the attention of all the facilitators; there was no time for rest ⏰ �� . Workshop after workshop, I could see the pure strength of the facilitators as they pushed through, uplifting the mood while being just as tired as the students. Facilitating is no joke! ��
This was all confirmed by the daily highs and lows. The highs varied: watching students grow more confident, facilitating fascinating conversations, and even becoming closer with the other facilitators. But the low was universal; that one impending uni assessment.
State Conference had no wifi or reception; definitely not uni-assessment friendly. However, it would be the perfect location for Survivor, right in the heart of Sydney.
Despite all these challenges, Saturday could not conclude without the trivia and disco �� . The theme was ‘historical eras’. From the delegates, we saw Einsteins , a farmer with their crops , Gatsby-themed outfits, and even the Plague doctor made an appearance.
Improvisation levels were high as a few facilitators elegantly tossed bath towels over their shoulders in place of a toga. It was nice to watch everyone have some fun after what had been a full day of facilitating. From guessing baby pictures to UN facts, trivia was a chance for delegates and facilitators alike to get competitive.
For the disco, we were ‘feelin’ so fly like a G6’ and we even snuck in a Just Dance classic or two �� Wonderwall concluded the disco as many of the new facilitators banded together for midnight chatter and noodles.
On Sunday, we were packed onto a bus to UTS, where we ended the conference with good ol’ model un debates. Overall, it was a great weekend for befriending new facilitators and learning a little about modern democracy.
written by Yvonne W
Congratulations to these facs with their new positions!
State Conference OC and Media Officer: Max Spencer-Tighe
Rural Liaison Officer: Amy Eggleton
Women’s Liaison Officer: Annabelle Fuller
Global Advocate Editor-in-Chief and Ethnocultural Officer: Vania Duneja
Junior Leadership Summit Convener: Samanta Choo
Junior Leadership Summit Deputy Convener and Global Advocate Editor: Jasmine Ye
Evatt Chief Judge and Media Officer: Maya Kundurthi
Negotiations Chief Judge: Alice Xie
Convener: Marianne Abzack
Evatt OC :Aryana Arora, Liam Turner, and Anuva Ahmad
Development Officer: Anuva Ahmad
Finance Officer Haru Yim
Summits DC Marcus Lanch
Education Officer Hayley Liang
We bid farewell to Lazmi as she transitions from her role as Director of Education. Lazmi's dedication and leadership have been instrumental in shaping our educational landscape, and her passion for learning will undoubtedly continue to inspire in her next endeavors. While we'll miss her heaps and we're excited to see what the future holds for her!
Here are some awesome opportunities for our lovely facs this month!
EVATT JUDGE and FACILITATOR
Apply here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLWz7Sl3LtrGMeWQEJiFn
D YIv1DK9L5c WNHv68dQ17crkg/viewform
Would you like to facilitate in the BIGGEST and BADDEST competition UN Youth has to offer? If you would, then you’re in luck!! Because the Evatt Competition is right around the corner. EVATT is a public speaking competition that emulates UN Security Council debates. It involves students from years 9-12 debating resolutions in a 3 - 4 hour event where they explore global issues, propose amendments, and achieve their country’s goals through diplomacy. We will have rounds all throughout NSW, including regional and road trip rounds, so wherever you are, there will be an opportunity for you to participate in Evatt and elevate your general facilitation and judging skills.
Get ready to dive into the heart of our organization's buzz with our very own Meeting Minutes page. Here, we dish out the latest scoop from our executive and general meetings, keeping you in the loop with all the juicy details It's time to peek behind the scenes and see how we're shaping the future together!
1/02/2024 - 28/03/2024
ft. special feature of Ruby’s sock and Jess’ UN Youth water bottle ��
February Minutes: https://drive google com/drive/folders/18qlaEicGqPfaTb7WIZ0XtmGq9n1vTZi7? usp=drive link
March Minutes: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12lFDw2-cKPTSS-wUHmsflte6r9R14oc?usp=sharing