Model UN Academy Releases 2024 Impact Report

January 1st, 2025

Model UN Academy, a local youth-led educational Model UN nonprofit, has released its 2024 Impact Report, celebrating 5 months of remarkable growth, collaboration, and transformative impact. As an organization still in its infancy, this report highlights achievements in education, leadership, and spreading awareness of global issues.

Founded in August 2024, Model UN Academy was founded by Momin Ahmed in an effort to address high school students' startling lack of awareness of global issues. ​A study conducted by Cambridge Assessment International Education in 2020 revealed that nearly one-third of high school students globally feel they are not receiving sufficient education on global issues. The survey, which included over 11,000 students aged 13 to 19, found that while 96% of respondents believe it's important to learn about global issues in school, 31% reported not having the opportunity to do so. Model UN Academy empowers youth to have the opportunity to learn about these pressing topics, enabling communities to access life-changing information.

2024 Impact Report

Model UN Academy has provided free, original Model UN resources to over 4,760 students from 68 high schools across the state of Illinois. Model UN Academy also has 2 chapters in Illinois that continue to teach students in their regions about Model UN, deepening the organization's impact and fostering youth-led collaboration.

Model UN Academy's first resources included written guides under three programs: General Assembly, Crisis, and Awards. As the organization grew and expanded, it began hosting free webinars to help students experience real-time practice and lessons. 

Reflecting on these milestones, Momin Ahmed, Founder and President of Model UN Academy, said: "Model UN is not just an extracurricular activity, but something that increases awareness of global issues among high school students. Model UN Academy serves as a solution to this lack of awareness. By making education accessible, we're empowering the next generation of leaders to make a difference."

Looking Ahead

Model UN Academy's plans for 2025 consist of national and global expansion using innovative multilingual educational tools, ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, are able to have their own impact.