Student UN connecting the global dots

Victoria Rhodes-Carlin is setting up a Pledgeme page to fund her trip to the International Model United Nations in The Hague, with stops also in New York, Paris, Rome, Berlin and Geneva. Photo / Ruth Keber

Victoria Rhodes-Carlin will represent New Zealand at The Hague International Model United Nations in January 2016, alongside 21 other students from around the country.

The 17-year-old will set off on January 8 for four weeks. She will travel to New York, Paris, Rome, Berlin and Geneva to visit places of significance and meet various diplomats before attending the five-day conference in The Hague, which draws about 4000 students from around the world.

The Hague International Model United Nations allows students to debate, negotiate and research global issues while representing a country's views in a committee.

Victoria, who is head girl at Papamoa College, said she had learned about other UN events from a friend when she started to research organisations she could be involved with.

She applied to take part in the New Zealand Model United Nations which was "four days of intense debate" so she would be able to apply for an international event.

"I thought: 'why not? I can just apply and see what happens'. I have been hugely passionate with environmental and sustainability issues for as long as I can remember."

It would be eye-opening to be a part of the event, she said.

"Because I am reasonably new to the UN and international relations I am wanting to further understand how countries are able to work together to agree on certain things. It's a tough job to try to get 196 countries to agree on one thing."

This year's topic was urbanisation sustainability.

"I would like to see more education around waste management and reducing household waste. We do already have a good reputation for event-management waste so I want to further that education into homes so families can make their own decisions and be more sustainable."

Ms Rhodes-Carlin will over the next few days set up a Pledgeme page to help raise the $10,000 needed for her trip.

"I will be running a rewards programme so if someone was to donate $100 or $200, I would be able to come and speak to an organisation or group about certain topics such as global responsibility or environmental sustainability."

After her UN trip she tackles a Bachelor of Science at Victoria University in Wellington, and will major in Environmental and Development Studies.