DUMUN’s Debut
DUMUN co-founders, Isa Ibrahim and Anthony Barakat
Student-Led Model UN Conference Brings Global Dialogue to DuPage
Isa Ibrahim and Anthony Barakat are natural problem solvers.
It’s part of what drew them to Hinsdale Central’s Model UN team during their freshman year. It’s also what inspired them, at just 15 years old, to launch a conference of their own.
“I felt overwhelmed as a freshman at Hinsdale Central High School coming back from my first conference, not realizing that others had prior experience,” Ibrahim said. “The natural solution that came to mind was to help others.”
The idea for the DuPage Model United Nations (DUMUN) conference started as a conversation between Ibrahim and his family at the dinner table in August 2024. By September, Ibrahim had recruited his friend, sophomore Anthony Barakat, to bring this idea to life. The two, driven by their shared goals, worked tirelessly to assemble a leadership team, build interest and momentum, and gain official state registration and not-for-profit status for their group. Now, DUMUN has over 20 members who hosted their first ever conference at Hinsdale South High School on April 27.
“It started out as a curiosity, and ended up turning into a passion,” Ibrahim said. “I knew that I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself.”
Model UN is a simulation of the United Nations; students—known as delegates—represent countries to debate global issues ranging from humanitarian aid to cybersecurity. Delegates work together to find collaborative resolutions to real-world crises. It requires negotiation, public speaking, and leadership skills, along with impressive knowledge of international politics. DUMUN’s conference is an opportunity for students in grades seven to 12 to familiarize themselves with Model UN, regardless of prior experience.
“DUMUN provides an invaluable insight into how the local to global issues impact you personally and how they are dealt with,” Ibrahim said.
“DUMUN provides an invaluable insight into how the local to global issues impact you personally and how they are dealt with.”
— DUMUN PRESIDENT ISA IBRAHIM
“The majority of us are not natural debaters or public speakers. There is no school that teaches you negotiations, time management, and respecting others even when you disagree with someone else’s opinion. Ultimately, DUMUN is trying to provide lifelong civic skills, or it will help you to be a future leader of a nation or run a small business.”
During their time in Model UN, Ibrahim and Barakat have debated policy issues like cybercrime in Qatar, animal trafficking and poaching in the U.S., stateless individuals in Libya, and bioterrorism in the Seychelles. Executive Director Momin Ahmed and others on the DUMUN leadership team have also represented a variety of nations, focusing on topics such as humanitarian aid, child labor, and weapons of mass destruction.
“Model UN isn’t just an extracurricular activity, but it is an opportunity for high school students to learn about the topics that influence our lives and the world every day,” Ahmed said. “Through Model UN, students become aware of global issues that too many young people are oblivious to.”
The DUMUN team has put in over 300 volunteer hours since the fall to prepare for their first conference.
Since launching in the fall, the DUMUN team has dedicated over 300 volunteer hours to organizing the conference. Between biweekly meetings and daily messaging in their group chat, this dedicated group is learning the ins and outs of what it means to operate a nonprofit from scratch—managing logistics, handling finances, and coordinating outreach—all while balancing school and other commitments.
“[Planning the conference] has taught me time management, executive functioning, and collaboration with my peers,” Ibrahim said. “Staying true to the vision of the organization is a key value of mine. As the president, any given day I could be wearing multiple hats, like processing payments, responding to the emails of a concerned parent, or reaching out to schools.”
Above all, Ibrahim, Barakat and the DUMUN team aim to make Model UN inclusive and approachable to any interested students. They recognize that starting out can be daunting, and they are happy to help in any way they can along the way.
“People should join DUMUN because it is accessible and open to all experience levels… and is a low-risk, high-reward opportunity that develops public speaking, leadership, and global awareness,” Barakat said.
For more information on DUMUN, visit DUMUN.org
