Lumba Muituti, a grade 8 learner from Eldorado Secondary School, is getting ready to do her first Model United Nations (MUN) Conference.
Her journey has not been without its challenges, including nearly missing the preparatory training session because she got lost in the city; and also another challenge was the recent discovery that her fellow delegate and partner had to withdraw from the conference.
“There have been many stumbling blocks from the start, but I remain determined to participate in the Model UN,” Lumba says.
Encouraged by her teacher, who believes in her potential, Lumba decided to take on this opportunity. The training session at the UN House was her first real introduction to what Model UN is all about and what delegates representing different countries are expected to do.
As the conference on 5 November approaches, Lumba is busy researching this year’s topic: “Advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment: building sustainable societies globally.”
She has learned a lot about the country she will represent, namely Lesotho, and the various barriers women face, such as high rates of gender-based violence, limited access to education, and economic inequalities.
To combat gender-based violence, she suggests raising public awareness and creating training programmes, specifically for women and girls. Interestingly she found that literacy rates for women is higher at 95%, compared to 83% for men, which shows good progress in female education in Lesotho.
Through her research, Lumba is finding out that indigenous women are particularly affected by environmental issues in Lesotho. They often bear the brunt of climate change impacts, facing poverty and limited access to education and healthcare.
Her findings highlight their crucial role as keepers of culture and natural resources, demonstrating that they can make valuable contributions within their communities.
Reflecting on her experience so far, Lumba says, “I didn’t realize how important gender equality and women’s empowerment were until I started Model UN.
“It hasn’t been an easy thing to start my journey, but I know that attending this conference will be worth it for the new friends, skills and knowledge I will gain.”
With a spirit of determination and a commitment to learning, Lumba is ready to make her mark at the upcoming MUN conference.
In the photo: Lumba Muituti.
