By Our Staff Writer | Opening Doorz Editorial | August 27, 2026
True statecraft is rarely born in the chambers of parliaments. More often, its earliest sparks are struck in the spirited assembly halls of schools where eager minds dare to imagine a less splintered world. On August 28 and 29, the campus of Don Bosco International School (DBIS) in Matunga, Mumbai, becomes one such crucible of leadership as it hosts the fifth edition of its Model United Nations conference, DBIS MUN 2026.
What began five years ago as an intimate internal exercise for DBIS pupils has quietly grown into one of the region’s most vibrant youth diplomatic forums. This year’s gathering marks an ambitious milestone in scale and substance. Expanding from just three committees to seven, the conference will welcome over 650 delegates and new participants from across Mumbai. The event will also feature acclaimed actor and activist Swara Bhasker as Chief Guest, adding a resonant voice of civic engagement to the opening proceedings.
Behind the grand banners and formal delegate placards lies an architecture designed by students, for students. DBIS MUN is a completely student-led initiative, created to provide a welcoming, high-calibre platform for seasoned debaters and novices alike.
Reflecting on this remarkable trajectory, Fr Ajoy Fernandes, Director, DBIS, captures the organic growth and foundational ethos that has fuelled the conference’s reputation over the past half-decade.
“Our very first MUN was only for the students of our school, which then led to the idea of hosting a MUN while opening it up to our fellow Don Bosco institutions and a few international schools in Matunga. Once we gained more confidence, we hosted an even bigger MUN the following year, welcoming more students while also introducing Junior committees. That has been our growth in terms of numbers,” reflects Fr Ajoy.
At a time when political rhetoric often degenerates into polarised soundbites, the practical mechanics of diplomacy serve as an indispensable lesson. Stepping into the shoes of UN delegates requires teenagers to leave their personal closed circles, examine multifaceted geopolitical realities, and present complicated policy positions with clarity and restraint.
Fr Ajoy emphasises that the conference’s true value extends far beyond textbook learning or tactical debating victories, pointing to the vital role of sympathy in modern statecraft.
He says, “One of the biggest things is becoming acquainted with how the United Nations functions. Reading about it in a textbook is very different from actually experiencing the process, understanding how sessions are organised and moderated, and how decisions are made and taken forward. I think this is a great introduction to the international geopolitical scene. Students also become familiar with current global issues and the different stances taken by nations as they adopt the role of delegates. At the same time, it develops important skills such as researching information and communicating their point of view.”
Cultivating Life Skills Beyond the Dais
For those observing from the outside, a Model UN might seem purely an academic activity in public speaking and international relations. However, as every seasoned educator will confirm, the multi-layered preparations to host and participate in an event of this magnitude instil lifelong competencies that traditional classroom learning cannot duplicate.
Ms Meena Saldhana, Principal, DBIS, highlights how the rigour of DBIS MUN shapes a student’s daily, personal, and academic development.
“In students’ daily life, a massive event like DBIS MUN helps hone organisation skills. These skills also carry over outside the classroom, such as during family events where they are essential. Academically, skills like research, critical thinking, and writing are greatly refined. Furthermore, DBIS MUN strengthens our students’ time management, problem-solving, and communication skills,” she says.
A distinctive hallmark of the DBIS educational structure is how smoothly this leadership pipeline is cultivated across age groups. Rather than thrusting senior secondary students into complex committee work without preparation, the institution deliberately introduces foundational diplomatic concepts during primary education.
Explaining the subtle balance between adult guidance and student autonomy, Ms Saldhana notes: “Recently, we introduced the concept of MUN into our primary years in the PYP at a smaller scale. We have committees to expose our students to the country’s problems from a young age. This builds confidence early while students grow their skills by participating in several external MUNs.”
The Pillar Behind the Platform: DBIS
Student agency and global awareness are rooted in the ethos of Don Bosco International School. For over a decade, DBIS has stood as a model of holistic international education, offering both the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge curricula from Nursery through Grade XII. Situated in Matunga, the school’s state-of-the-art campus features extensive sports fields, specialised art and music studios, and modern learning spaces created to nurture every aspect of student growth.
Yet beyond its impressive academic credentials and physical infrastructure, DBIS is defined by its embrace of community values—character, creativity, empathy, and critical thinking. By motivating students to lead clubs, engage in collaborative research, spearhead community service, and host signature events like DBIS MUN, the school lives up to its promise of sparking curiosity and building lasting connections. For students studying here, DBIS is a second home where young learners are empowered to become global citizens and their best selves.
As the gavel falls to open the fifth edition of DBIS MUN on August 28, the corridors of DBIS will once again reverberate with the sharp logic, passionate appeals, and teamwork spirit of tomorrow’s leaders—a reassuring sign that the future of diplomacy rests in very competent hands.
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