Students from the American International School of Gaza cannot return home until the Rafah border opens

More than 450 children, aged 13 to 18, from 50 different schools, most of which are in the Middle East, took part in the miniature imitation of the UN in Doha, Qatar.
 
The 'Model UN' is a global conference bringing children into the world of international diplomacy to work through problems and conflicts that face the UN today.
 
Issues tackled during the three-day event included the conflict in Iraq, North Korean nuclear development, and the situation in Darfur.

Organised by the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, the conference raised more intense and heart-felt debates than many other Model UN meetings.

It brought together students from schools in a Middle East beset by conflict.

Al'a Hamouda, from the American International School of Gaza (AISG), said: "I saw how people are living differently, enjoying their time. In Gaza it's all the time shooting and dying. It's different."

Alia Oriban, an AISG teacher, said: "Exposing the children from different cultures and societies has opened the minds of all the students."

Young diplomats

For the children, it was a unique opportunity to take on the roles of senior diplomats.

Dana Al Kahlout, the mock "vice chair of the UN Security Council", said the conference was a "window that we, as future leaders, can look through to see the world".

Almost 450 students took part in the Model UN

"It allows us to step into another person's position and be them, act like them, understand them, and represent them well."

But not all of the children were inspired to become tomorrow's diplomats, particularly those from the occupied Palestinian territories.

Waseem Uschev, an AISG student, said: "It was a good experience, but I want to be an engineer.

"I don't like wars and things like that. I want to be in my own business."

Fellow student, Al'a, wanted to work in the emergency services. "We see many things like this so I guess it is not a surprise," she said.

Border worries

AISG could not afford the journey to the first model UN conference in Cairo last year due to a lack of funds. But, the financial crisis in Gaza was not the only reason.

"We never know when the border is open. The minute I crossed the Rafah border, I knew I was coming to Qatar."

The American International School in Tel Aviv hosted a conference to which AISG were invited in 2005, but Alia pointed out that all but two of the students were refused entry.

One of those allowed to enter was picked up by the Israeli army and sent back after 24 hours.

She said: "Young people in Palestine between 18 and 35 have little hope of a good education firstly because many can't afford it, and secondly, if they get scholarships elsewhere, they can't leave.

"I have to explain to my kids what it feels like to be on a boat, on a rollercoaster, in a museum. Gaza has no theatre, no ballet, nothing.

She described how Palestinian children can "differentiate between the bullets of a 100-calibre gun, a 1000-calibre gun," and how "an F16 fighter aircraft over their head doesn't even make them flinch".

"All this exposure has stopped their natural journey from youth to maturity."