Eight CedarBridge Academy students travelled to the United Nations International School-UN Conference — topic: “Migration Crossing the Line” — where they learnt a lot about group work and how to give and work as a team during the duration of the trip. These S2 and S3 students were exposed to information on current affairs, in particular the Refugee Crisis, were taught to work in a competitive environment, to ask questions and comment competitively among a group of more than 550 highly motivated and articulate young people from around the world.

The students acted and conducted themselves very well as delegates for their school in a very formal environment in the United Nations General Assembly, according to instructional leader for social studies, Judith Gill.

“When the students emerged from the final day of the conference they were overawed and commented on how much they ‘did not know’. But, more importantly, they immediately sought to find ways to improve their knowledge base, this was the high point for me. This was when I knew the whole experience was worth it. It caused them to see their better selves,” Ms Gill said.

The young leaders involved were Zahria Furbert (S3), Shantori Fox (S2), Shani Darrell (S2), Ihsan Umrani (S2), Vanessa Gilbert (S2), Kenji Robinson (S3), Zarico Gilbert (S2), and Ridge Branco (S3), showed they have the potential to work in an international conference and present in a very professional fashion. The trip was worth it because CBA students had the opportunity to work side by side with other students and youth leaders from all around the world. It must have been exciting and thrilling a student explained.

Vanessa Gilbert said “My trip to New York was a wonderful, fruitful experience. I learnt a ton of new things, in regards to the Refugee Crisis.

“Attending this conference also showed how our leaders of tomorrow are preparing for the future trials and tribulations that can either bring our community up or tear it down.”

Students, who attended the conference in early March, were accompanied by two of teachers from the Social Studies department, Mr Nathan Dill and Ms Judith Gil.