Honourable chairs, distinguished delegates and esteemed guests,

After the global conditions due to COVID-19 forced the cancellation of last year’s session, it is my honour to welcome you to Birkerød Gymnasium’s 11th annual Model United Nations conference. 

The theme of BIGMUN 2022 is “Learners of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow;” a phrase that pinpoints the crucial role of youth engagement in tackling humanity’s most pressing contemporary issues. From Sophie Scholl’s political activism and non-violent resistance under the Third Reich to the millions of students who gather each year in the name of Greta Thunberg’s Skolstrejk för Klimatet, young people have historically proven themselves important in challenging a system managed exclusively by adults. Likewise, Model UN has grown into more than just an after-school programme, but a meeting point for building the next generation of progressive leaders. 

In keeping with this theme, we look forward to opening our doors to the hundreds of international students who each year reinforce a diversity of thought through constructive, thought-provoking discussions. Model UN challenges students to think outside the box, passing creative solutions while acquiring skills of public speaking, leadership, and teamwork. 

“Be a global citizen. Act with passion and compassion. Help us make this world safer and more sustainable today and for the generations that will follow us. That is our moral responsibility,” are the words of former UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon. While BIGMUN 2022 is merely a simulation of the actual UN, the very concept of coming together to investigate diplomacy and international issues sufficiently proves the younger generation’s concern for our collective future. We ultimately hope that each and every participant, regardless of their responsibility within the conference, leaves with a more open-minded and solution-oriented outlook on life. 

Yours sincerely, 

 - Anna Olivia Vest Nielsen, Secretary-General