A JOURNEY OF RESILIENCE
Model UN sessions can be very special, but none more so than the gathering that took place at Alleyn’s School in London earlier this year, attended by students from the British International School, Ukraine, as Anna Azarova reports.
Diplomacy and belief in the future
In January our school did something that not long ago would have seemed impossible. Our students travelled to the United Kingdom.
For many schools around the world, an international trip is routine. The British International School, Ukraine has continued operating through years of war, and for our students it was something profoundly different. It was the heart of winter. In Ukraine, the cold was piercing, air-raid alerts remained a daily reality, and blackouts continued to disrupt ordinary life. Infrastructure was badly damaged. Every decision required careful planning; every step demanded resilience.
In late January, a group of BISU senior students from Kyiv and Dnipro set off for London – a city that would soon become the setting for new achievements and unforgettable first-hand experiences. This journey was made possible thanks to the support of our partners – the Council of British International Schools (COBIS), Alleyn’s School and London Interdisciplinary School. Without their support and collaboration, this story would not have been written. Here is how it unfolded.
Return to the global stage
This marked our second participation in the high-level COBIS Model United Nations debates. Last year, our students represented Ukraine at an international conference in Prague – the first time since 2022 that we had managed to organise a school trip beyond Ukraine. They returned stronger, more confident, and even earned an award.
This year London was our destination.
The conference offered students the opportunity to step into the role of diplomats, to experience first-hand how the United Nations operates, and to debate pressing global challenges alongside peers from around the world. It was an opportunity not only to speak – but to be heard. Preparation took place alongside IGCSE examinations and, most importantly, under exceptionally challenging national circumstances. The journey itself required endurance: nearly two days of travel, including a 20-hour train ride from Kyiv to Budapest – with two students travelling first from Dnipro to Kyiv – followed by a lengthy layover and a flight to London.
It was demanding. It was exhausting. But our students rose to the occasion and arrived ready.
The conference was hosted by Alleyn’s School in Dulwich, a historic institution founded in the 17th century. More than 250 delegates from 15 schools gathered for the event – many already highly experienced in debate.
Diplomacy in Action
Throughout the conference our students immersed themselves in rigorous and dynamic committee work.
In ECOFIN, they engaged in complex debates on the economics of migration, navigating strong opposition and contributing strategically to resolutions addressing sovereign debt. In the Sci-Fi committee, discussions on cloning sparked lively exchanges, alliance-building, and the drafting of an extensive collaborative resolution. The afternoon sessions saw equally strong performances. In the WHO committee, delegates proposed important amendments on international drug regulation. In the Arctic Council, representatives of the Aleut International Association successfully introduced and passed key clauses in their working paper.
By the close of the conference, resolutions had advanced on abolishing sovereign debt and expanding access to life-changing medicines such as Ozempic. These were not merely academic exercises, they were demonstrations of negotiation, research, collaboration, and leadership under pressure. The work was not always easy, but it was worthwhile. Marharyta, a BISU Year 12 student, adds:
“Trips like this one are meant to put you in a stressful situation, and it is only in this state that we learn something new about ourselves.”
The school that brought us together
Without our hosts at Alleyn’s, nothing would have been possible, Dr. Matthew Greetham, Director of MUN & International Partnerships at Alleyn’s and his team made us feel so welcome:
“It was a pleasure to see the students and staff who travelled from Ukraine to be part of the COBIS-Alleyn’s International MUN conference. They were a real credit to their schools in not only attending a high-profile competitive conference in the UK, but to have done so under really quite challenging conditions”.
Alleyn’s in fact have gone even further as Dr. Greetham explained:
‘“We continue to partner with the ‘UKUA Together’ initiative, which allows teenagers from Ukraine who have been affected by conflict to visit Alleyn’s for educational and cultural enrichment. The presence of our friends from Ukraine is a reminder of the importance of international partnership and global citizenship”
London through our students’ eyes
The experience extended far beyond the committee rooms. Our students explored London’s most iconic landmarks – from Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square to Tower Bridge, Parliament and Big Ben. The highlight was a guided tour of Westminster Abbey, where centuries of history unfolded before them. The group had the rare opportunity to see the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor, located behind the High Altar and accessible only during specific hours.
For students who had spent recent winters studying during blackouts, walking through the heart of Britain’s capital carried particular meaning. It was a reminder of connection, stability, and shared heritage.
Rethinking Education – a new approach to learning
Another significant highlight was the visit to London Interdisciplinary School – an innovative university that takes an interdisciplinary approach to solving the most pressing challenges of the modern world.
BISU students were introduced to forward-thinking academic pathways and career opportunities. They toured the campus and participated in a workshop focused on concept design, critical thinking, idea development and presentation skills. The session demonstrated how contemporary education can unite theory with practice and encourage creative, comprehensive approaches to real-world problems.
Back home – stronger
The programme was intense, the schedule was full, and the journey was long. Yet our students and teachers made the most of every moment. They returned to Ukraine safely, filled with reflection, inspiration and renewed determination. Anastasiia, a BISU Year 11 student, said
“It was an amazing new experience that helped me learn more about the world and about myself”
. . . and Nikita, a BISU Year 9 student added:
“Trips like this not only give you new challenges and opportunities to learn about the world, but also show what you’re capable of,”
Thank you
We are deeply grateful to our partners and organisers for making this transformative experience possible. Perhaps the most powerful reflection came from one of our students:
“We absolutely have to return to London again this year – this trip was incredible.”
And we believe we will.
Anna Azarova is the Communications Manager at The British International School, Ukraine , a COBIS Member School.
FEATURE IMAGE: by Marie Proročenko on Unsplash
Support Images: Our thanks to Alleyn’s School, COBIS & BIS Ukraine
London Interdisciplinary School Logo – https://lis.ac.uk/, Public Domain, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78759719
