A Salesian college in West Bengal has received a certificate of recognition from the United Nations Association for Develop-ment and Peace (UNADAP). “This accolade is awarded to Salesian College (Autonomous) Siliguri, India, in recognition of conducting the Salesian Model United Nations under the theme: United Nations Sustainable De-velopment Goal 2 – Zero Hunger, held April 13-15 at Siliguri,” reads the citation. UNADAP executive director Dominic F. Dixon, who inaugurated the event and participated in the proceed-ings, was the chief guest at the closing ceremony during which he handed over the certificate to Salesian Father Babu Joseph, principal of Salesian College Siliguri and Sonada in northern Bengal. The certificate signed and sealed by Dixon further reads, “Salesian College’s mission, hard work, dedication, and per- severance of its prin-cipals and faculty members and its vi-brant student com-munity since 1938 have been instrumental in gaining autono-mous status for Salesian College, and we are honoured to recognise its accomplishments.” More than 160 delegates from 18 schools participated in the third Salesian Model United Nations (SMUN) organised by students.
The delegates were divided into seven committees: United Nation’s Security Council; UN Human Rights Council; UN Commission on the Status of Women; UN General Assembly on Disarmament and International Security Council; All India Political Parties Meet; Viceroy’s Partition Council; and International Press Corps (IPC). Speaking at the concluding ceremony, Dixon offered UNADAP internships, a 7-week Masterclass on “Business and International Relations” as well as a second 7-week online course on “Spirit of Excellence, to students.”The suggestions from SMUN 2024 on Zero Hunger will be submitted to the UNADAP.