UNA-DR - WFUNA

UNA-DR

UNA of the Month for October 2007: UNA-Dominican Republic
Empowering Youth

UNADR 3 The United Nations Association of the Dominican Republic (UNA-DR) is a non-profit, non governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the work of the United Nations. The UNA-DR contributes to the strengthening of the UN mission by coordinating educational and cultural activities which seek to raise public awareness and motivate citizen participation.

The UNA-DR was founded in 2001 under the umbrella of the World Federation of United Nations Associations. In 2002, an agreement was signed with the Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), created by Dr. Leonel Fernandez, upon which FUNGLODE became its main partner in the Dominican Republic, providing operational and logistical support. In 2003, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development, FUNGLODE's sister institution in the United States, joined the alliance and has been providing significant support through its New York and Washington DC operations. In the year 2004, Dr. Fernandez became the Honorary President of the three allied institutions as he assumed his role as the President of the Dominican Republic. UNA-DR's team consists of 11 office members and 80 volunteers.

UNADr with Kofi UNA-DR's vision is to act as the primary promoter of the work and principles of the United Nations in the Dominican Republic while contributing to the creation of well-informed citizens, who recognize and honor the importance of intercultural dialogue, effective negotiations and peaceful solutions to conflicts and disputes. We aim to implement projects and initiatives which enhance the socio-economic development and cultural prosperity of the Dominican people, through collaboration with educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and the Dominican community at home and abroad. One of the greatest highlights of UNA-DR's work has been receiving the visit of the Former Secretary General of the United Nations, H.E. Kofi Annan in August 2006.

UNA-DR's Initiatives

1. Model United Nations Conferences

UNADR 4 The Model UN conferences are considered one of the most important and innovative educational methods that contribute to the personal and professional advancement and empowerment of young people. The Model UN Conferences are the most impacting program of UNA-DR, involving over 17,000 Dominican and international high school and university students, who have acted as ambassadors of the UN Member States. The students also act as representatives of NGOs, private sector organizations and associations known in the international community.

In 2005 UNA-DR organized the first Security Council Tournament hosted throughout the Dominican Republic, involving the participation of 8,000 students from 44 higher education institutions countrywide from September 2004 to July 2005.

Upcoming UNA-DR Model UN conferences are:

International Conference of the Americas, CILA 2007
The third edition of the largest youth conference on international affairs in Latin America and the Caribbean, will be held at the Barceló Bávaro Convention Center, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on October 10th-14th, 2007. CILA 2007 will host the First World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) Latin America and Caribbean Model United Nations Conference. This event will gather 1,500 delegates from 18 countries of Latin America, the Caribbean and other regions of the world.

New York-Dominican Republic Model United Nations Conference - NYDRMUN 2008
For the sixth edition of this Conference, more than 400 students will travel from the Dominican Republic to New York City. NYDRMUN 2008 will be help at Fordham University and the United Nations Headquarters in New York, on March 12th - 16th, 2008.

2. The First Dominican - Haitian Youth Encounter, 2005
This binational conference called "Perspectives and New Challenges in the Haitian - Dominican Relations" was a historical event that gathered 50 young Haitians and 50 young Dominicans from all walks of life to analyze and discuss the different topics that affect both countries and propose new and feasible solutions.

3. Television Program "Global Youth: Leaders of the Future"
The UNA-DR has designed and produced the first-ever television program for young people about diplomacy, international relations and development in an effort to broaden its outreach to young audiences. The show is broadcasted every Sunday from 6 to 7 p.m. on Antena Latina, Canal 7, national television, and features the first-ever televised Model United Nations, known as MUNTV.

4. Community Outreach and Development Initiatives
UNADR 2 The UNA-DR has organized and supported many projects and activities which seek to assist the development of rural communities and instill in young people the principles of solidarity, cooperation and leadership. These activities include campaigns in favor of bateyes (sugarcane plantation villages), HIV positive children shelters, and rural schools. In 2006, we led a campaign to donate 1,000 text books to the public school in Batey 9. This year, we donated enough school supplies for a school year. We have also cooperated in raising medicines and arranging Medical Service Campaigns in Batey 5, in a joint project with Batey Relief Alliance.

Volunteers painting wall 2 Additionally, for the last three years, UNA-DR has built a strong partnership with the international NGO, Service for Peace. These two institutions have developed 4 projects to re-build public elementary schools in rural communities in the Dominican Republic. This project is developed on site by a group of American and European volunteers that come to the country to learn a culture of peace and community service, while helping a needed school. UNA-DR and Service for Peace are also currently sponsoring an Adult Literacy Program and have donated several computers fostering Computer Training Programs for children and adults in rural communities.

5. Entrepreneurship and Youth Employment

UNA-DR UNADR 1 works together with the Young Americas Business Trust, an affiliate of the OAS, and the Youth Employment Summit to develop initiatives that foster the entrepreneurial spirit in Dominican youth. Empowering our youth to create their own businesses has proven to be an effective way to reduce poverty. In 2006, we organized the first "Young Entrepreneurs' National Competition" where more than 60 young entrepreneurs submitted their business plans and competed for access to funding to develop their companies.

6. Access to the United Nations' Resources and Documents

The main headquarters of the UNA-DR are based at the Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE) in Santo Domingo. It's Documentation and Knowledge Management Center is home to a wide range of documentaries, reports and interviews produced by the different agencies and programs of the United Nations System.

In close collaboration with the United Nations Department of Public information and the United Nations Information Center for Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, hundreds of articles and documents are permanently distributed to our enthusiastic youth. Our institution is also home to a United Nations Depositary Library.