By Rimsha Ali Shah
While in transit at the Hamad International Airport, Qatar, Abdul Moeed Asad, Ayesha Amin, Sara Hassan, Umer Hussain, and Wahid Khan posed for a photograph hoisting the Pakistani flag. It was August 14, 2016, Pakistan’s 70th Independence day, and this delegation, later joined by Aruba Khalid, Azeema Ilyas, and Baitullah Khan, were all set for the first regional edition of the Everest International Model United Nations (EIMUN) 2016 held in Kathmandu, Nepal from August 15 -19, 2016.
Their journey was one marked with extraordinary tales! From meeting the U.S. Ambassador to Nepal Alaina Teplitz, to singing the famous “Dil Dil Pakistan” on 14th August; forging bonds with young leaders from South and Central Asia to staging a cultural wedding show on the global village; exploring Kathmandu and Pokhara, appreciating the cultural diversity to winning seven out of eight awards!
Following this outstanding achievement, the delegation was honored with a special reception at the U.S. Embassy, Islamabad where their achievements were recognized with a certificate distribution ceremony. U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale lauded the efforts of the alumni in bridging gaps through active diplomacy.
Diplomacy in Action
The weeklong trip for Baitullah was a refreshing exchange experience. “After the Global Undergraduate Semester Exchange Program (UGRAD), this exchange was a completely new experience for me. My first try at a MUN and the Nepalese hospitality made the entire experience so much more worthwhile.”
Sarah vividly remembers the frenzied cultural dance performance preparation, an hour before the Global Village inauguration. “In one hour, we learned the Attan, Punjabi, Sindhi and Baluchi dances, prepared for a South Asian wedding, set up our stall with delicacies and cultural artifacts from Pakistan! It was crazy, but also my favorite memory from EIMUN.”
For Wahid, a seasoned MUN attendee, the presence of international delegates at EIMUN introduced him to several different rules of procedure. “It was a bit confusing at first,” he recalls. For him, the cultural diversity paved way for new friendships. “One thing I realized was that despite our differences — cultural, physical and religious — we shared a lot of similarities. We speak alike and even think alike.”
Umer, a member of the Ambassador’s Youth Council, was representing Turkey in his committee. “I was able to learn a lot about landlocked countries and the future of developing nations. The diplomacy in action was a truly refreshing experience!”
Ayesha found the debate quite meaningful. “There was always so much to learn from the other delegates.” Referring to the cultural wedding set-up by the Pakistan delegation, Ayesha says, “We had a Bengali groom, a Nepalese bridge, and Pakistani wedding rituals. It was as culturally rich as it could be!”
Exploring Nepal
The delegation also used their time to venture out into the city and experience the Nepalese lifestyle, the Nepalese style.
Azeema witnessed the best sunrise of her life! “I went to Nagarkot, a famous tourist spot in Nepal, just to view the sunrise. And it was the best one I have ever seen!” Check out Azeema’s photographic coverage of her visit here.
Moeed invested himself in capturing the Nepalese culture through his lens. “Nepal is such a loving country. What truly stood out for me was how women were owning the public spaces over there. There was hardly any gender inequality.” Check out Moeed’s photographic coverage of his visit here.
Aruba, though not a delegate, co-chaired a committee at EIMUN. Due to her role, she arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal nearly a month before the delegation. “I biked across the city and all the way to Sarangkot and saw the Annapurna range from the height, hiked to the Buddhist sanctuary to attend the morning prayers, experienced the Thamel nightlife, sang my heart out, cooked Biryani for my Nepalese and Bangladeshi counterparts, forged friendships that I never imagined I could, handled logistics and co-chaired the committee! It was an amalgam of euphoric moments!”
About EIMUN 2016
This was the third iteration of Everest International Model United, as a Regional MUN, focusing on the South and Central Asian Region, with support from the US Embassy in Nepal in collaboration with Youth Thinkers’ Society. EIMUN-III had an attendance of 200 young leaders from across Asia and beyond.
