SUNMUN 2020 (27/11/2020-29/11/2020)

SUNMUN 2020 is back! Online that is, it was supposed to be held in July. Due to the current pandemic that the world is facing right now, the conference is shifted online as with previous MUN conferences I had attended. I was supposed to be placed in the Dewan Rakyat - which is one of my favourite councils but due to low participation of delegates, the council is called off. I look for other councils in the list, I decide to try out the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) for short. Please, do not be confused with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). 

We have an ice-breaking session and later Elisa, our co-chair explains the procedure of MUN in general for the newcomers to be familiar with, we don't want to have any culture shocks. I remembered during my very first MUN in 2018 at Malaysia National Model United Nations (MUN), I have to find my way during the three-day conferences. No guidance at all, but slowly was working the way during my second conference which was SUNMUN 2018. 

The debate begins on the second day with opening speeches and discussing on the topic in hand. I have a chat with Elisa, the co-chair of the council during the break to catch up we have been up to these days. The delegate of Canada decides to team up with delegates of Malaysia, New Zealand, Ireland for a bloc on drafting a working paper that would be presented later for a draft resolution. As I'm in a meeting for an upcoming SunFM podcast, the delegate of Canada and Ireland message me, and I didn't know what is going on. It's a bit of drama but it is all in good terms. If this was in a physical MUN, the drama would be even intense. 

 On the third and final day of the conference, I didn't join the first half of the conference as I'm on my weekly Sunday class. By the time I come back, the resolution is passed and we end a session early. While waiting for the online closing ceremony, the delegates mingle around and drop our respective social media handles in the chatbox for us to keep in touch. Although, no award for me on home grounds, this a way to close the final online MUN conference in 2020. Hopefully, next year in 2021, a physical MUN conference.  

The Star R. AGE Kindness Workshop (3/11/2020)

After a Zoom party with national gymnast Farah Ann and MMA fighter Ann Osman, it's time to head over for a kindness workshop and there is a special guest appearance, who is it? Let you know in a bit. It's back to the #StandTogether Kindness Workshop! Unfortunately, my computer is not kind to me today because the camera is not working but luckily my iPad is there as a backup. 

We are asked to take four pieces of A4 papers which will be used for each segment of the workshop. The first segment is drawing ourselves, the challenge is we have to use our non-dominant hand, dominant hand and one part with our eyes closed while drawing ourselves. I didn't do well with my eyes closed while drawing. Next, we are broken into groups to breakout rooms. My first group is a bit quiet because none of us spoke up, I have to be the first one to initiate the conversation, it lasted for five minutes, it's really short. 

We are back to the main room again for another activity. I participated in this game before at the Zoom party. We are given a statement while the cameras are turned off, and turn on if that statement describes us. Again, we are broken out into another breakout room to discuss the forms of bullying and which form of bullying is the most common of all. My teammates Emily, Khadijah and Mellisa agree that cyberbullying is the most common of all because we can get behind the computer to type out anything, but please don't, use it to spread kindness. 

Next, we take a third A4 paper and tear it half. One is to draw which represents "Me Also" meaning "I have been through this before", the other paper is a heart shape which represents "Love La!" meaning "You are brave" and other empathy words within. It's like social media "likes". We use it for the Storytelling and Gratitude segments. By the time we head back to the main room, Chole is telling how much she enjoys the Kindness Workshop, everyone's hearts just melted in an instant. The innocence of a child teaches us so much about empathy and kindness.  

Remember I told you about the special guest appearance? He's a #StandTogether ambassador and UNICEF Malaysia's youth ambassador, can you guess who is it! Yes! The one and only Ismail Izzani! He shared his experiences about kindness in his life, especially his English teacher, Teacher Gina, who constantly believed in him. That reminded me of some of my teachers in high school as well. 

There is a Q & A session from the kindness advocates. Being a singer, Ismail sang a few lines of Bidadari (Angel) for us. At the end of the workshop, a group photo is taken and that wraps up the English version of the kindness workshop. Now, I'm officially a kindness advocate! Thank you #StandTogether team for organising the workshop and made some amazing friends too! 

Have courage and be kind.