To all those attending the BRITMUN Economic & Social Council, 

 

My name is Ziyang Zhang, and I am truly honoured to serve as your Deputy President for the Economic & Social Council of BRITMUN this year. I am a high school student at the Canadian International School of Beijing, and I am privileged to be on the BRITMUN student officer team for my 3rd year in the MUN program. MUN has not only helped me improve my public speaking skills, but it has also shaped my worldview and mindset of being a global citizen.  

 

Walking in as a shy and clueless sixth grader, I had no idea what kind of joy and fulfilment MUN would bring me shortly. Initially, I joined MUN to increase my confidence in public speaking, which was at an all-time low back then. I soon realized that being too much of a chill guy wasn’t something to be too proud of, and MUN existed as a space for people who shared the same interests to have a good time rather than being outcasted due to different stances in certain circumstances.

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Dearest delegates, 

 

Welcome to the BRITMUN Economic and Social Council. My name is Jai Coffey, I am a student in Year 10 at the British School of Beijing, Shunyi. Having been an avid member of our MUN club at BSB for the past four years, I have found passion in engaging in thought-provoking debates with like-minded individuals throughout the journey so far, aiming to become an effective communicator of ideas both in and beyond debate.

 

However, the most significant concept to be discovered in the art of debate goes beyond presenting ideas with effect – upon becoming confident, this is not enough. Mediocre ideas presented through charisma can only take you so far – it is succinct ideas that have a lasting impact. I learnt this at my most recent conference in Hangzhou.

 

Regardless of finessing at the podium, let us have a wonderous experience in ECOSOC this year, but also give it our all, and make things meaningful. I look forward to seeing you showcase your profound knowledge on our two debate topics, whilst simultaneously making key decisions for debate, and possibly trying something new. See you soon!

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