Middle school students from Troy and the region are coming together at Troy University for the Southeast Alabama Model United Nations Assembly to learn more about international affairs.

The assembly will be a two-day event, from March 5-6. According to Terry White, program development specialist for the Southeast Alabama Regional Inservice Center at Troy University, 184 students, including 45 from Charles Henderson Middle School will represent 34 delegations (nations) in the assembly.

“There will be five to seven students in each delegation and seven ninth-graders will be the officers,” White said.

The students will dress in costumes native to the country they represent. Moreover, in preparation prior to the assembly, delegations have researched their nations. They had to decide what issue would affect their nations and to write a resolution to solve such issue.

“This program promotes the use of research skills as well as written and oral communication skills in students,” White said. “It helps students build self-confidence, giving them an opportunity to learn things through doing.

“The assembly gives students awareness of the world and international affairs, insights into the relationships among the United States and other nations.”

At the event, students will present their resolutions. There will be a debate where students have to ask and answer questions regarding to resolutions.

“(Students) have to be knowledgeable about their nations and what going on in the world to be able to ask questions and vote on resolutions,” White said.

According to Elizabeth Stone, CHMS seventh-grade history teacher, the assembly will benefit the students in many ways.

“It will help their writing resolution skill, and expose them to the different cultural events that are going on in the world around them,” Stone said. “It will introduce them to a life outside Troy.

“The students have to work very hard and are excited to see what their hard work has done.”

On the event’s first day, students will be in committee meetings and general assembly, presenting and debating their resolutions. Closing the day will be a World Hunger Presentation.

During the second day, students will be presented with a world crisis scenario, according to White.

“It will be very interesting on the second day,” White said. “The students will have to look at the crisis in various ways. Their nations have to come together to discuss and present their positions and resolution.

“These are sixth, seventh and eighth-graders. I am interested to see what they come up with and how they present.”

The Southeast Alabama Model United Nations Assembly is sponsored by the Wiregrass Writing Project and the Southeast Alabama Regional Inservice Center at Troy University.

Participating schools are Charles Henderson Middle School of Troy, D.A. Middle School of Ozark, Brewton Middle School, Beverlye Magnet School, Carver Magnet School and Houston Academy of Dothan.