Bosconians at 2020 Yale and

Six senior high school Bosconians, namely: (Grade 12) Julia Pia Berdeguel, Ralph Mathew Calucer, Donato Miguel Salaya, (Grade 11) Danielle Marie Cecillano, Michael Reeno Ferrer and Mary Nicole Soberano, represented Don Bosco School (Salesian Sisters), Inc. and the Philippines in the recently-concluded 46th Yale Model United Nations (MUN) and the 67th Harvard MUN conferences held in the United States on Jan 23-26 and Jan 30- Feb 2, 2020 respectively. They were mentored by DBS Principal, Sr. Pinky Garza, FMA and Mrs. Girlie Cabas, DBS Formation Coordinator.

At YMUN which was set in the beautiful Yale University campus in New Haven, Connecticut, the Bosconians did not only engage in debates and discussions on pressing global issues in their respective committees. They also participated in the Global Citizen of the Arts competition where all of them made it to the shortlist of top entries representing the best artworks in the photography and music categories chosen from hundreds of other entries coming from the close to 2,000 YMUN

delegates. The entry of Donato Miguel Salaya (Grade 12) was eventually adjudged the winner in the Global Citizen of the Arts - Music category.

In addition, the DBS delegation also bagged the grand prize in the 2nd Social Impact Challenge organized by YMUN. As indicated in the YMUN website, “The Social Impact Challenge offers delegates the chance to take the initiative on addressing key challenges in the modern world. The goal of this initiative is to encourage delegates to take ownership and provide an opportunity for the application of the skills cultivated by Model UN, namely collaboration, initiative and a desire to change the world for the better.” The winning entry of DBS consists of a proposed Mental Health Education project for the local community around Don Bosco School. The award comes with a monetary support from YMUN for the implementation of the project in the coming months. It also gave the DBS delegation the privilege to attend a private workshop during the Yale Day on January 24, 2020 facilitated by Mr. Steve Reiss, the New York City Metro Area Community Engagement Manager for Rise Against Hunger, a hunger relief organization and the nonprofit partner for YMUN.

After their successful stint at YMUN XLVI, the group went on to Boston, Massachusetts to participate in the 67th Harvard MUN.

The Bosconians joined a group of more than 4,000 young leaders from 270 Secondary Schools in 50 countries who debated and negotiated on the most serious challenges in international relations following the prompt: Diplomacy in the Age of Globalization.

Don Bosco School is indeed grateful to Sr. Mabel Pilar, FMA, Sr. Jojo Carrasco, FMA and the Provincial Council for giving the Bosconians opportunities like the Model UN conferences where young people experience being more open to and engaged in complex global issues, interacting with fellow young leaders from various parts of the world and honing their leadership skills and motivation to make a difference especially in the future.