Non-Governmental Organizations Program

Dear Delegates,

Rachel Park

It is my pleasure to extend to you a warm welcome to the 2013 Harvard National Model United Nations NGO Program! You will be participating in one of the most innovative and dynamic programs at HNMUN, and the policy recommendations that you will provide to committees will be integral in developing effective international responses to current world issues. My name is Rachel Park and I am currently a rising Sophomore at Harvard College, living in Pforzheimer House. I am concentrating in Social Studies with a secondary in East Asian Studies, and hope to get language citations in French and Mandarin. Last year, I was the Assistant Director for the NGO Program at HNMUN 2012, and I am so excited to be back again with you this year!

I am originally from Toronto, Canada (welcome fellow internationals!), and discovered the wondrous world of Model UN during my freshman year of high school. In addition to HNMUN, I work at the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School, am a member of the Harvard Undergraduate Law Society, and volunteer at the Phillips Brooks House Association’s Chinatown After-school Program in Boston. In my free time, I love traveling, discovering new restaurants in Boston, and jamming out to Mika and MJ with my roommates.

This year, we’re making further improvements to our already amazing NGO program, and I look forward to introducing you to our new setup. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at ngo@hnmun.org. I wish you the very best in your preparations for the conference and I can’t wait to meet you!

Sincerely,

Rachel Park
Director, Non-Governmental Organizations Program
Harvard National Model United Nations 2013

The NGO Program offers a unique opportunity through which to experience HNMUN. Unlike any other committee, the NGO Program allows each delegate to explore a variety of other committees in the GA and ECOSOC organs, partaking in all the substantive debates as a valuable source of resources and expertise. NGO representatives will possess the expertise regarding current issues affecting our world today. Furthermore, beyond knowing what the problems are, each NGO also offer solutions on how to address such issues.

Delegates will represent local, regional, and international NGOs from around the world. Beyond knowing just what the problems are, each NGO will be able to provide in-depth solutions and programs for addressing the issues. The International Committee of the Red Cross, for example, will provide the latest information on emergency relief drives. Women’s rights organizations, such as Women for Women’s Rights, will call for gender equality initiatives, while children’s rights organizations, like Child Rights International Network and Save the Children, will advocate for policies to protect children and preserve stability for future generations. Groups such as Greenpeace will watch out for efficiency and sustainability, to ensure specific progress towards global goals. These are just a few examples of NGOs that may be represented at HNMUN, that each have the power to change the world.

Representing an NGO is a fulfilling and unparalleled experience as each delegate will be able to contribute and influence a committee and provide an outsider’s perspective on how to address the issues discussed in that committee. Every NGO delegate will have the opportunity to engage in issues that affect our real world and provide feasible and realistic solutions to affect the committees throughout the conference.