Ahmadhiyya hosts first model SAARC Summit in a school

Ahmadhiyya School has hosted a model SAARC Summit on Saturday, reflecting on the issues in SAARC countries, and possible solutions.

This is the first time that a model SAARC Summit has been held in a school.

In the summit, students represented leaders and delegates of eight countries. These eight countries are Maldives, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Students represented SAARC country leaders, Foreign Ministers, Foreign Secretaries, and one representative from each country's SAARC desk.

Students also represented SAARC Secretary General, Secretary General's Admin and directors of eight countries.

Those representing the countries read out country statements, addressing climate change, economy, rights and development in South Asia. They also proposed possible solutions to the issues they raised.

These included creation of funds to assist countries, and cooperation between countries.

The model summit was organized at Ahmadhiyya School with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdulla Khaleel was the Guest of Honour at the summit. He praised the students research and presentation, as well as the organization of the summit, emphasizing the key role such activities play in education.

He highlighted the importance of including such activities within the school curriculum as well.

The Minister stated that activities such as this would also create interest amongst the youth in taking up careers in foreign affairs and diplomacy.

Ahmadhiyya School's History teacher Mohamed Saleem, who led the event, told Mihaaru News that although Maldives is a relatively small country, its involvement in the diplomatic area has developed significantly.

He emphasized the importance of students being aware of the world around them by the time they complete their secondary education.

"We believed this is an important field when our school decided to undertake this. So we first held a model UNGA meeting. That was carried out very successfully. So the school will continue to hold UNGA meetings once, and SAARC summits next," he said.

He noted that the Foreign Ministry's delegation had also highlighted that the students' research for the summit had been very thorough.

Students were selected through an audition amongst students from Grades 7 to 10. They were given about a month to prepare for the summit.

Saleem said that similar events will be held in the school in the future as well.