Camille Manrique “started a Non-Profit called the International Partners for Peace, which organizes MUN Models, teacher and student training sessions and different programs directed towards the promotion of peace.” The Middle East Model UN was held at the University of Sharjah and simulated how the UN works. It allowed students to represent a country and debate world issues from that country’s point of view to find solutions.
I was able to catch up with Ms. Manrique personally and ask her a few questions about the trip. In order to help this project reach its fullest potential, Ms. Manrique was surrounded by other teachers from a multitude of different countries including Columbia, Peru, Pakistan, and Malta. Clearly, she was running a very professional project, so I wondered how the students would respond to the “big stage.” They had never been a part of something so massive. In response, she said that, “Public speaking can be very scary for any person. At first students were very nervous and shy. They didn't know any of the students or delegates in their committees and in some cases needed a lot of guidance on the procedure and topics. However, once they realized that they were all there to learn and develop different skills, you could see the way they immediately assumed the role they had to. They then began speaking and expressing their ideas in front of the whole committee. You could see them interacting and exchanging ideas with each other in a very respectful and diplomatic way in order to find solutions to the world issues they were discussing.”
Sturgis East should be extremely proud of the feat Camille Manrique has accomplished. By traveling to new places all across the world and interacting with people of unique backgrounds, Ms. Manrique has opened the door to new possibilities for the youth in the UAE and in the halls of Sturgis.