MUNA (Model United Nations Assembly)

MUNA - developing international understanding and goodwill

The United Nations Association created MUNA to enable young people to simulate the workings of the United Nations Assembly by having teams of about three Year 11 students represent a particular U.N. country in debates on matters of world political and social concern.

Students are given the opportunity to improve their research, debating and public speaking skills by addressing a wide range of contemporary world focussed issues.

The U.N. Assembly chamber is recreated replete with country name plates, national flags and where the students are encouraged to wear the national costume of the country that they represent.

The Assembly is chaired by the “Secretary General”, and judged by Rotarians.

Prizes are awarded in various categories such as best overall representation and the best national costume.

The first and second placed teams go on to represent the District at “National MUNA” in the Old Parliament House, in Canberra, in August. MUNA is about building bridges of goodwill for world peace and understanding through a personal involvement in the acceptance of situations that reflect the opinion of "adopted" countries.

Where is MUNA held?

District 9750 MUNA convenes at the Nan Tien Temple, in Berkeley NSW.

Berkeley is about 1 hour's drive south of Sydney, near Wollongong.

The History of MUNA

The United Nations Association created MUNA to enable young people to simulate the great debates of the United Nations Assembly. Rotary first conducted MUNA at Winnipeg in Canada.

It was introduced into Australia by Lake Cargelligo Rotary Club (District 9700) in 1980; the Rotary Club of Forbes realized the potential for Rotary to promote MUNA and today 19 out of 23 Rotary Districts in Australia participate.

In District 9750 the Model United Nations Assembly has been held at the Nan Tien Temple, Berkeley NSW since 1996 and has developed into an important Rotary project, with the aim of fostering an understanding of the workings of the United Nations and international understanding and goodwill.

In 1977 the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise hosted the first national MUNA which took place in the Senate Chambers of Old Parliament House. Rotary with its spread of membership across 168 countries is well placed to advance the goals which it shares with the U.N.

Rotary & the United Nations

"Rotary International's relationship with the United Nations is as old as the UN itself. In 1945 there were 49 Rotarians in 29 delegations at the UN Charter Conference in San Francisco. With other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Rotarians influenced the text and focus of the charter, particularly on economic, social and humanitarian issues.

Sixty odd years ago in 1945, RI had clubs in 65 countries and had expanded its purpose beyond meeting the needs of local communities to include efforts to further international understanding, goodwill and peace.

Many UN objectives were and are parallel to those of Rotary - to develop friendly relations among nations, to help solve international economic social cultural and humanitarian problems, and to promote human rights.

Rotary's humanitarian projects and those of the UN address similar global needs. Increasingly the public and private sector organizations pool resources for shared objectives.

The objects of Rotary and of the United Nations parallel the theme for year 1997-98, Show Rotary Cares - for our community, for our world, for its people. Rotarians around the world share with the United Nations the same fundamental goals of World Understanding and Peace".

To contact us either  send an e-mail to the MUNA committee or write to: