Written by Anna Azarova, Communications Manager, The British International School, Ukraine ,COBIS Member

Recently, BISU proudly participated in a prestigious international event organised by COBIS in partnership with PLIS. Ten of our senior students travelled to Prague from 30 January to 2 February to take part in the Model United Nations (MUN) conference — an event that brought together nearly 200 students from 20 top schools across Europe for an intense, high-level debate on global issues. 

Representing over 100 countries, our students stood shoulder to shoulder with the young minds sharpening their skills in international diplomacy. They tackled some of the world’s most urgent challenges — from climate change to international shipping rights — showcasing their ability to think critically, articulate their positions with confidence, and negotiate resolutions that drive real change. The conference took place from 8:00 to 18:00 on a Friday and Saturday, and the students worked tirelessly on drafting their own resolutions to solve the problems faced by their committee. 

T he long hours and hard work were rewarded with one of the conference’s most prestigious awards. A defining moment of their success was when they sponsored one of the few resolutions to gain near-unanimous approval from the General Assembly — an achievement that speaks volumes about their leadership and diplomatic skills. The General Assembly was comprised of nearly 200 students, and the resolutions written by our students received lengthy rounds of applause from the entire body.  

Across three days of intense debating and problem solving, the students learned of the importance of internationalism, mutual respect, and cultural tolerance. These values are at the heart of BISU’s mission. Even in challenging times, we remain committed to keeping our students connected to a wider global society, fostering a strong sense of global citizenship and the power to create positive change. 

But this journey was about more than just international collaboration and debate. It was a milestone for BISU. Since the war began, international travel has been nearly impossible for Ukrainian schools, with no direct flights connecting Ukraine to the rest of the world. Despite these challenges, we made it happen.

This was our first major school trip beyond Ukraine in years, and it symbolised our unwavering dedication to ensuring our students remain active participants in the global community. At the heart of this initiative was Mr. Michael, BISU’s English and Economics teacher, who played an important role in preparing our students for this experience. As one of our dedicated international educators who chose to come to Ukraine to teach on-site, he launched a speaking club to equip our students with the skills and confidence needed to excel at MUN. His guidance and their relentless preparation paid off spectacularly. 

Mr. Michael: “Our students achieved something remarkable in Prague. Social media companies would love nothing more than for the next generation to remain glued to their phones. COVID-19 threatened to silenc e the hopes of so many. Above all, malevolent forces across the world wish to muzzle the next generation of Ukrainian leaders. 

In the face of these powerful challenges, our students refused to be silenced — they demanded their brilliance be heard by the whole world. They travelled 25 hours, one way, by train to Prague to debate against some of Europe’s brightest young minds. Amid once-in-a-generation obstacles, they spoke with eloquence and conviction. These ten students are an inspiration, and I applaud them for their remarkable achievements.” 

 Ms. Yuliia, BISU French teacher and accompanying supervisor, adds: “For our students this was the first experience in-person in the last few years due to the situation in our country. The students showed incredible interest and involvement in this project. They each contributed to the concept of a better future, not only focusing on the problems within our country, but also immersing themselves in the realities of world order and diplomacy. They defended the idea of a better future for everyone. Each of them displayed their best qualities and achieved the best results, which our school is very proud of. I believe that this is just the beginning and the start of their path”. 

 The most rewarding part is hearing our students share their experiences from this trip: 

Emma, Year 11: “The trip was amazing! I learned many new things like how to write a position paper and researching topics! Also debating on big topics showed me that it’s much harder to get everyone’s wants into something! Sitting in a room for hours with people with many different ideas and passions showed me a new side to things that I hadn’t seen before. Exploring Prague was honestly amazing! The people were friendly, and the architecture was absolutely mind blowing and out of this world! It’s definitely a place I’d come back to. While we explored Prague, we got to make many happy memories and funny memories while we learned about new things!”  

Aisha Year 11, whose resolution was accepted by both the WHO Committee and the General Assembly, says “As an introverted person with stage fear, this event pushed me to not only present my proposals to different issues in the spotlight, but answer questions about them and defend them in front of a crowd of people from all around the world, representing different countries with different interests. This event taught me to overcome my stage fright, to interact with people and socialise with them through long discussions and small talk - this led to the beginning of many new friendships, allowing me to make friends with people whom I now talk to on a regular basis. Moreover, I learnt to debate, which was a new domain for me. This was my first time debating, and I discovered an entirely new world of discussion, arguments and dialogue.” 

Sofiia: "I really liked our trip, the debates were perfect, and the total vibe from the trip is so slay. I would like to do it once again."  

Alina: “Our trip was filled with lots of fun, and interesting also. For the first time we did MUN, and this is a new experience. Social event was crazy in a good way.” 

As a proud COBIS member, we are grateful for this meaningful event, which provided our students in Ukraine with an invaluable opportunity to hone their diplomatic skills, engage in high-level debates, and connect with peers from across Europe. We are confident this story will be continued!