Welcome to YMUN LI
Social Impact Essay:
78 years ago the United Nations was founded, with the mission to prompt peace and equality across the world. From the initial adoption of the charter of the 50 member states to the 193 today, the history of the United Nations is marked with milestones, triumphs, and trials.
The Social Impact Essay gives delegates a direct opportunity to voice their own opinions on the United Nations’s effect on the world and use their Model UN skills outside the committee room.
Theme:
Emerging Voices: Power of Communication
Communication, when simply defined, is the exchange of information. However, its impact runs much deeper, shaping societies and driving movements worldwide. Write an essay about the transformative power of communication.
Your subject could be a movement, a form of media, a cultural tradition, or any channel through which communication has had a powerful impact.
We recommend considering the origins of this form of communication, the unique ways it drives leadership and influence, and/or how it bridges divides on an international scale.
Whether from history or personal experience, your subject should showcase the connection between communication and global understanding in a meaningful way.
Process & Timeline
essay submission deadline: December 24, 2024 11:59 PM EST.
Winners will be announced during the Closing Ceremony.
Any delegate who plans to attend YMUN may submit an essay; however, only delegates who are registered and confirmed as attending will have their submissions judged.
Submissions must be no longer than 1,000 words in length, typed in English.
Submissions should be double-spaced, 12 point font, and 1 inch margins.
Submissions must be the delegate’s own original work. Any outside sources used, e.g., quotations, statistics, the writing of other authors, must be appropriately cited using MLA format.
Submissions should be made through this google form.
For further information, please contact the co-USGs of Conference and Events, Jin Chung and Sebastian Cordero Muniz at conference@ymun.org.
Eligibility
All submissions to the Social Impact Essay Challenge must be members of a current delegation that is registered as attending YMUN LI. Each delegate may only write and submit one essay.
Selection Criteria
Quality of Research and Writing: The application demonstrates a familiarity with the subject and reflects a strong grasp of the issue at hand as well as the logistics of the proposed solution. Writing is clear and free of errors. How the project would be implemented is clearly outlined.
**Note: Students will not be penalized for their English level as long as the writing can be understood.
Knowledge: The writing demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the strengths and failures of the United Nations and its impact on the global community.
Creativity: The statement conveys a new and innovative approach or understanding of the topic, that demonstrates the student’s own unique thought process. This includes issues which have often been overlooked or largely unknown.
Passion: The reasoning behind why the chosen topic has been addressed as well as the overarching effects of the issue is clearly stated.
Understanding: Any proposed solution [where proposed by the delegate, or found through research] is either realistic, or shows a discernable and understandable plan or action. If the delegate is writing based on research, a clear explanation of why the proposed solution would have or would not have worked should be outlined.
Present Goals: The writing brings the issues squarely into the modern day, analyzing not only the lasting effects of the resolution but continued efforts to reach a fair conclusion.
Awards
Social Impact Essay Contest Award: The winning delegate, as well as second and third-place delegate, will be recognized during the Closing Ceremony of the YMUN LI conference and the winner will receive a plaque for their achievement.