Unicamp and the Representation Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in São Paulo (Eresp) began negotiations for the University's participation in the federal Monuem project – which promotes, for students from the public school system in São Paulo, simulations of what would be the plenary session of the United Nations (UN).
According to Eresp, the project, which emerged at Harvard University more than 40 years ago, offers students the opportunity to act as a diplomat in an environment of negotiation on vital issues, representing a country.
The agreement between the institutions was discussed at a meeting organized by Executive Directorate of International Relations (DERI) and held this Wednesday morning (28) at Unicamp. The meeting was attended by the ambassador Irene Vida Gala, deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in São Paulo.
“The idea is for Unicamp students to help organize the project in high school classes at public schools in São Paulo”, explains professor Alfredo de Melo, advisor to DERI. “Students would encourage high school students to engage in discussions of international politics, inaugurating contact with the great politics of nations. In fact, it is a stimulus to civic life and international citizenship”, continues Alfredo de Melo.
The DERI advisor explains that the agreement is still in the structuring process, as it may involve extension aspects, in addition to the need for coordination with public schools in the municipality and other civil society organizations. According to him, the expectation, however, is that from 2023 Unicamp will be able to have a first class of Monuem, in Campinas.
“There was a previous conversation with DERI, but now we want to embrace this project more firmly,” said professor at the Institute of Economics and deputy chief of staff, Adriana Nunes Ferreira. “It seems fundamental to us. Even taking advantage of this moment in which we are involved in the extension curricularization process”, she added. “This can be an extension activity, which will greatly contribute to the training of our students and to society”, believes the teacher.
Expand the scope
According to a Irene Gala, The project has already been installed in 12 schools in São Paulo, but the plan is to expand its scope. “The idea is to start giving high school students the dynamics of the world and show them how much the international influences their lives. And, above all, this could be a career perspective”, said the ambassador. “The perspective would not necessarily be in the area of international relations, but in careers that may be related to themes associated with the idea of internationalization, whether in the area of research, health, or the exact area. It is very interesting to see how they understand these topics and come to enjoy understanding them”, she adds.
The challenges for Brazilian foreign policy
In addition to the meeting that discussed Monuem, the ambassador spoke to students and teachers in a lecture held in the “Marielle Franco” Auditorium of the Institute of Philosophy and Human Sciences (IFCH).
In the lecture “The challenges for Brazilian foreign policy in 2023”, Irene Gala said that Brazil's diplomatic efforts from now on are aimed at “recovering its institutional strength”. According to her, erratic decisions by the federal government over the last four years have damaged the image of the country's foreign policy, traditionally highly respected in the world.
“Brazilian diplomacy has existed for 200 years, but today we are disempowered, disqualified, ridiculed,” she said. Therefore, he warns, it is necessary to rebuild the country's image abroad. “Brazil looks bad in the photo, but there is an empty chair [at the negotiating table of international organizations], waiting for Brazil. The world is willing to give in to have Brazil back on the team”, she concluded.
A pprofessor Silvia Maria Santiago, executive director of Human Rights, also participated in the meeting with the ambassador. For DERI, the coordinator for International Cooperation, Angélica Torresin, the Mobility coordinator, Ana Paula Fontana, the Coordinator of Support for Agreements and Mobility, Mayara Ferreira Morais, and Ludmila Fávero Pioli were present.
