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• Tanzania International Model United Nation - Timun 2021
Photo Credit: Dr. Hortencia Nuhu - Chairperson of YUNA Tanzania
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150 young people from 16 countries (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Sudan, the United Kingdom and Togo) participated in the Tanzania International Model United Nations – TIMUN 2021 organized by the Youth of United Nations Association (YUNA) Tanzania from 23 - 26, August 2021 at the Institute of Tourism (Maruhubi), Zanzibar. The theme of the conference is: “Youth engagement towards the realization of the Sustainable development Goals Decade of Action”.
For 24 years, the Youth of United Nations Association (YUNA) Tanzania has been organizing this conference aimed at empowering Tanzanian and non-Tanzanian youth between the ages of 18 - 30 on leadership and diplomacy issues. The participants, apart from representing the various member states of the UN, should also explain in detail the strategies being taken by those countries in implementing international agreements including the 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development Goals.
In a 3-day conference in Zanzibar, young people discussed in depth their participation in the SDGs decade of action and came up with resolutions in four thematic areas: Healthy Nations with youth on steering wheel; Critical Youth Skills towards 2030, Empowered Youth
Photo Credit: Hon. Dr. Saada Mkuya Salum - Minister of State in the Office of 1st Vice President of Zanzibar
for Decent Work and Employment as well as the Youth potentials in leadership and peacebuilding for sustainable peace and development.
Honorable Dr. Saada Mkuya, Minister of State in the office of the First Vice President of Zanzibar has represented the President of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar and the Chairman of the Revolutionary Council as the guest of honor. In her speech she said; “The President of Zanzibar recognizes the existence of this gathering and its importance in shaping the formulation of policies and laws that will improve the well-being of young people in our countries. The government congratulates YUNA Tanzania for making this event a success while all precautions to protect the UVIKO-19 are under consideration and we are ready to host this conference again here in Zanzibar next year. There are many efforts being made to improve the well-being of the people and especially the youth in the four specific areas you are discussing. The government is making every effort to improve the health sector, improve education, develop policies and strategies that will reduce the problem of youth employment including the blue economy policy as well as bringing young people closer to the leadership and decision-making process through direct appointment to public offices and through the National Youth Council which carries the voices of young people from the shehia level to the National level. However, through this forum, we welcome youth ideas to further improve the development efforts undertaken by the government. In addition to participating in this forum, we also invite you to visit various tourist destinations to see the beauty of the islands of Zanzibar”.
Speaking at the closing session of the conference, Dr. Hortencia Nuhu, Chairperson of Youth of United Nations Association of Tanzania stated that; “Our role as YUNA Tanzania is to bring young people closer to UN activities, where we provide them with experience of the principles and procedures at UN meetings, and also to ensure that their voices are heard on issues affecting youth welfare that need to be addressed and given priority by UN member states. Through the resolutions adopted at this conference, it is our call on the government and other development partners including the youth themselves to take appropriate action that will enable the achievement of the sustainable development goals by 2030 with the youth at the forefront as leaders of change in society ”.
Photo Credit: Joseph Brighton Malekela - Coordinator of Tanzania International Model UN 2021
Speaking with the media, the coordinator of Tanzania International Model United Nations 2021 Conference Mr. Joseph Brighton Malekela stated that; “This conference is being held in Zanzibar for the first time and has provided a great opportunity for young people of 16 countries to discuss in detail their role in the 10 years of implementation of the SDGs. This conference is the culmination of a series of online and face-to-face discussions held as pre-activities in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Mtwara where young people had the opportunity to express their views on specific thematic areas of the conference which are Youth and Health, Youth and Education, Youth and Employment as well as Youth and Leadership. In this conference we have found resolutions that clearly show how youth are willing to be fully involved in the process of completing the implementation of global goals for the next 10 years at the national and international levels.
Through information sharing from the young people who participated in this 15-nation conference, we have exchanged experiences and are ready to be part of the change that will make the world a better place to live by 2030 ”.
The Tanzania International Model United Nations as a simulation of the UN General Assembly, despite being organized by YUNA Tanzania, it is also supported by the Prime Minister’ Office, Policy, Parliamentary affairs, Labor, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities ; Zanzibar Revolutionary Government through the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports; Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation through the Zanzibar SubOffice, United Nations Tanzania, United Nations Association - UNA, People’s Bank of Zanzibar (PBZ), German Embassy in Tanzania, HakiElimu, Africa - Asia Youth Foundation, Global Peace Foundation Tanzania, Open Society for East Africa - OSIEA, ElimikaWikiendi and Young Creative Leaders.
Other key figures who attended this conference as special guests are Hon. Idrissa Kitwana Mustafa (Urban West Regional Commissioner in Zanzibar), Mr. Shaibu Ibrahim Mohammed (Director of Youth Development Zanzibar), Ms. Kathrin Steinbell (Deputy Head of Mission of Germany Embassy in Tanzania) and Mr. Reynald Maeda (Executive Director of the United Nations Association - UNA).
