The Model Diplomacy Organization (MDO) recently had the opportunity to attend the 2023 Southeast Model African Union conference in Kennesaw, Georgia at Kennesaw State University. A six-person, student-led delegation was sent to the conference without any prior experience in the related field. 

MDO received four awards during the conference. Aniket Shafin in the Executive Council won the “Most Outstanding” and “Best Delegate in Committee” awards. Apeksha Paudel, Jared Jacobo, and Taliyah Truong won the “Honorable Mention Delegation” award. 

“It helped me to become more confident.. and will help other students like me to pursue a career in diplomacy,” said Shafin. 

The MDO “provides our students, regardless of major or interests, an opportunity to learn diplomacy, international politics, international relations, and to allow students to gain connections and networking opportunities, meeting various ambassadors and students from all over the globe,” said Alex Ntambwe, president of MDO. 

The conference was structured in various simulations. Within these simulations, six different committees of 15 to 20 students had the opportunity to work toward solving a crisis.

“Crisis comes to us, we need to manage and solve it within the allotted time,” said Shafin.

The Model Diplomacy Organization represented Mali, a country in West Africa, and each member focused on different matters. For example, member Aaliyah Truong’s focus was on peace and security.

“If I didn’t like something happening, I had to network really fast. And show I wanted my bill to pass,” said Truong. 

The conference, while a huge success, will hopefully be the first of many. From Feb. 1 to 3, MDO is planning to send student delegates to upstate New York and participate in a Model Arab League and a Model United Nations conference.

“One of our biggest goals, and one of the things that we find rewarding, especially going to other simulations, is the ability to meet with other schools,” said Ntambwe. 

Alex Ntambwe’s dedication to this organization has contributed to the organization’s recent major success.

“One thing that the club seeks to do is to give students the opportunity and to allow them to participate, no matter the interests, and sometimes no matter the cost,” said Ntambwe. 

“I was willing to pay for the entire conference to allow the students to get the opportunity. And I am sure everyone else finds it rewarding to meet these people and work towards, especially in the case of Taliyah and Aniket, what they want to do in their future. It’s giving them a little bit of a sneak peek on what they want to be and what they can be and what there is to be,” said Ntambwe.

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