The Institución Educativa Pance Model United Nations (IEMUN) is much more than an academic event: it is the result of a collective dream and two years of sustained effort by a group of young people committed to social transformation through education.
It all began in 2024, when a team of students from Colegio Bolívar decided to start a voluntary social service project at Institución Educativa Pance. Their purpose was clear: to introduce other young people to the United Nations system, foster critical thinking, and promote global awareness as part of civic education.
Throughout this process, the volunteers taught regular classes addressing key issues of both international and national relevance. Topics such as the conflict in Colombia’s Catatumbo region, the war between Israel and Palestine, climate change, and global inequality became starting points for reflection, debate, and collaborative learning. In addition, students received training in parliamentary language, resolution writing, and diplomatic procedures—essential tools for their future participation in Model United Nations conferences.
The leadership of 12th-grade students Valeria Soto and Daniel Cano, together with the commitment of eight volunteer students, made it possible to consolidate this initiative. Among the most outstanding members were Juan Sebastián Uribe, Lucía Loaiza, Antonella Ardila, and Camilo Villegas, who later took on leadership roles as committee chairs.
After two years of consistent work, the project’s positive impact inspired a bold next step: organizing the first-ever Model United Nations conference in the history of Institución Educativa Pance. Thus, IEMUN was born—a model that, despite lacking a prior structure, succeeded in becoming a rigorous, innovative, and transformative experience.
The challenge was no small feat. The volunteers took care of every detail—from training delegates and chairs to forming the secretariat, coordinating with both schools’ administrations, and organizing the event as a whole. What began as a social service project evolved into a process of leadership, cooperation, and community building.
Today, IEMUN stands as a platform for young people to take on the role of global citizens, capable of understanding the world’s challenges and proposing solutions through dialogue, respect, and diplomacy.
More than an academic event, IEMUN is a commitment to the future—a space where education is lived as a driving force for change, and where students discover the power of their voices in building a more just and sustainable world.
