Every year on the 24th day of October, a day that aims to connect people from every corner of the world is celebrated. The United Nations Day is devoted to forging mutual respect between international countries, building towards a future filled with cooperation and harmony. The focal point for the current school year’s celebration of the United Nations Week are the three activities to be held — Mr. & Mrs. United Nations, AVP or audio-video presentation-making contest, and debate — all of which encapsulate the significance of one’s identity and uniqueness. 

Mr. & Ms. United Nations is a contest between participants representing various countries that are part of the United Nations. With their own distinct charms that sets them apart from each other, the countries to be represented are Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Brunei, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ghana, Latvia, Montenegro, Palau, Romania, Thailand, Tonga, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vietnam, and Wales. Segments of the contest, namely the National Costume, Formal Attire, and Question & Answer Portion, will allow the audience to immerse themselves in cultures that they were hitherto unfamiliar with. 

The stated countries will be promoted using audio-visual presentations. The AVP-making contest intends to broaden and deepen the viewer’s knowledge about the cultures that constitute the countries’ identity. Participants are tasked to promote the countries through creative ways to catch the interest of viewers, exhibiting the countries’ traditions, languages, festivals, and day-to-day life. In a way, these videos will provide an enlightening and educational glimpse into different nations across the world. The AVP-making contest will serve as a medium for viewers to not only learn, but eradicate the stereotypes surrounding the countries.

Lastly, the debate, which will challenge the awareness of the students regarding apt global issues while serving as a means for the students to enhance their public speaking and argumentative abilities. With the use of adept critical thinking skills, the debate teams must sway the audience’s opinions. Discussions like these highlight the importance of knowing facts and engaging in open-minded conversations, especially in the face of complex issues. 

Amidst the specters of violent discrimination, the principles that the United Nations Week upholds must not be forgotten at the end of the celebration but it must be recognized throughout the whole year. Maya Angelou, a known civil rights activist, once said “In diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” The United Nations Week is a celebration of identity and diversity. More than that, it is a commemoration of difference. It is an urgent wake-up call to acknowledge that our dissimilarities should not be a cause for prejudice and war, but a cause for the appreciation of the heritage that our ancestors have entrusted us with.