The main objective of the Athens College Junior High School "Youth Training at the United Nations" Club is to familiarize students with the United Nations, its operation and important issues that concern the global community today, such as the protection of human rights, the refugee issue, climate change, etc.

The weekly Club meetings relied largely on the students themselves who, almost from the start, took action by making presentations on the UN institutions and their function. This was the best way to prepare the eleven Grade 9 students, members of the Club, who traveled to Geneva for a week in March and participated in the Youth Training  program at  the UN headquarters. Students were accompanied by teachers, Ms. Lamprini Zisi and Ms. Aimilia Stripeli.

In the context of this unique experience, Athens College Grade 9 students participated in various activities such as  guided tours, visits to museums, lectures, discussions, interactive quiz games, and group presentations.

Viewing the House of Nations for the first time, interest, and curiosity are peaked ... Where are we going?  What is this building?  Why is it so great? Students walk through the corridors and move among people who are unknown and different, a truly multicultural environment; they visit the committee meeting rooms, they attend the live human rights session taking place in the large room XX (Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room) with colorful stalactites adorning the ceiling. This is a first contact with the area of international diplomacy, where an important part of modern history has been written and continues to be written!

The speech by the Head of Public Diplomacy Office at the Permanent Mission of Greece at the United Nations, Geneva, Mr. Rossidis Zafiris, which raises a number of questions about the diplomatic profession and the role of Greece in diplomacy, is very exciting.

A more personal question and answer session is also provided on the second day, when young UN interns meet our students in groups, present their studies and explain how they applied for a position at the UN. 

The speech given by Dorine van der Wal on the work of the World Health Organization is of course a notable one, and provides students with a first contact with an institution that has stood out in the last three years.

The itinerary continues with visits to the offices of the UNHCR, the Lausanne Olympic Games Museum and the Red Cross Museum. On Thursday night, the teams try to complete their work and prepare for Friday's presentations. The last day of our visit is taken up with presentations, an award-ceremony for the completion of the program, lots of photos and slowly leads to the journey back home.

The student-members of the Club were present at the Panigyri 2023 - School Fair  (31/3-2/4) with a display of posters and photos of the program, and a video was prepared by student Marios Thomas regarding the overall activities of the Club.