THIMUN 2026

The JBS THIMUN team recently traveled to the Netherlands to participate in the 58th annual THIMUN (The Hague International Model United Nations) conference, one of the largest and most prestigious Model UN gatherings in the world. This year, 17 students and four faculty members attended the conference in The Hague to engage in global dialogue, debate international issues, and collaborate with peers from across the globe. The theme of the 2026 conference was "Culture & Heritage: Embracing Diversity," setting the stage for meaningful conversations about identity, history, and international cooperation.

The team’s journey began with an early morning flight to Philadelphia and an unexpectedly long layover. By the time the group boarded their overnight flight to Amsterdam later that evening, students were understandably exhausted and quickly fell asleep, resting up for the busy days ahead.

After arriving in Amsterdam the next morning, the group launched into a day of cultural exploration. Students learned about the city’s history during a canal tour and visited both the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House. Walking through the actual rooms where the Frank family hid during World War II was especially powerful and thought-provoking.

The following day, the team traveled to The Hague and met up with a school from Puerto Rico, spending the day exploring the city together. Students enjoyed connecting across cultures while visiting a contemporary art museum in a beautiful Art Deco building and touring Madurodam, a theme park filled with detailed miniature cities. The day concluded with a shared Lebanese dinner and the start of new friendships.

At the conference, Burroughs students took on a wide range of roles, including representing the country of Qatar, serving as a NATO delegate, joining the press team, acting as a judge on the International Criminal Court, and participating in the historic Security Council.

Writes THIMUN participant Prani Gangavarapu '27:

This past week, 17 Burroughs students from the junior and senior classes traveled to The Hague, Netherlands, to participate in the four-day THIMUN conference. Our team represented Qatar in multiple committees, where we engaged in lobbying, debating, drafting resolutions, and delivering speeches on topics such as sustainable agricultural practices and the impact of natural disasters on cultural heritage sites. Alongside more than 3,000 other delegates, we collaborated to find solutions to real-world issues while developing valuable skills — such as public speaking, research, and negotiation through simulations of the parliamentary-style discussions of the United Nations.

Additionally, we carried this year’s THIMUN theme, "Culture & Heritage: Embracing Diversity," outside the conference rooms, welcoming several new friends along the way (including students from The Palmas Academy in Puerto Rico) and delving into various cultures through food and attractions. Alongside the countless memories made, we had the honor of surprising and celebrating Mr. Newman’s 30th year running the THIMUN trip with a meal of authentic Dutch cuisine on our last night. We will never forget the fond memories filled with laughter, the spark of excitement each time a placard was raised, and, most importantly, the courage and power to initiate change within a community, step by step.

Photos by Ari Duel '27