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Students in a model United Nations class at Earle B. Wood Middle School have a better understanding of the international organization thanks to a visit from Liberia's ambassador to the United States last week.
Speaking animatedly, M. Nathaniel Barnes, who was his country's ambassador to the United Nations from May 2006 to September 2008, fielded questions from the eighth-graders and told them about the African nation.
The country, whose name means "land of the free," was founded by free African-Americans and freed slaves from the United States in 1820, Barnes said. It began with less than 100 residents, but now has a population of approximately 3.5 million people.
While the country has had a rocky past, including a series of civil wars, it is making strides forward, he said. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became president of Liberia in 2005 and the first democratically elected female president of an African nation, said Barnes, who ran for the position but eventually threw his support behind Sirleaf.
He added that one of Liberia's primary goals is to rebuild its economy and bring down crime.
Barnes said he values the role the United Nations has played in helping Liberia reach peace and was honored to serve the organization.
"It was wonderful," he said of his experience. "And the nice thing is whether you are a wealthy country or a poor country you are all treated equally."
Victoria Sheal, a 14-year-old Rockville student, said she enjoyed learning about Liberia and what it is like to serve as an ambassador.
"It really helped me gain a deeper understanding of what ambassadors do," she said.
Although he has a busy schedule, Barnes said he likes to take time to talk with students.
"They're our future leaders and whatever we can do to impart a little bit of wisdom — a little bit of our own experience to them — is very, very important," he said.
Jeffrey Shaw, who teaches the Model United Nations/Student Court class, said he and Jassie Fahnbulleh, a social studies teacher, invited Barnes as a way to let students hear what it is like to serve in the United Nations and represent a country. This is the first year the class has been taught at Wood.
"Students are going to grow up in a world where globalism is at play and they have to be able to understand the complexities of international trade and things like that," Shaw said.
As part of the course, the students have studied the International Monetary Fund, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the World Health Organization and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Shaw said.
Eugenia "Jeanie" Dawson, principal of the Aspen Hill school, said having the ambassador speak was a good way to drive home what students had learned in class.
"It brings history alive to them, especially with what they've been studying in terms of cultures from around the world and global citizenry," she said.
