The Bond University United Nations Students Association (BUUNSA) has been recognised by the United Nations (UN) for its contribution to fostering the UN principles of peace, human rights and social justice in and around the Bond community.
BUUNSA was presented with the UN Association of Australia Queensland Community Award recently at Government House by Her Excellency, the Governor of Queensland Ms Penelope Wensley AC.
BUUNSA was recognised particularly for its outstanding result at the 2012 Asia-Pacific Model United Nations Conference (AMUNC) in Melbourne, where the team was named Best Overall Delegation and the 19 student delegates won a total of 10 awards between them - including five Diplomacy awards, three Best Delegate awards and two Honourable Mentions.
BUUNSA’s quarterly events such as the Bond Model UN conferences and Films That Matter, which showcase award-winning films about pertinent international issues and increase awareness about the work of the UN among Bond students, also contributed to their award win.
Last month BUUNSA ran a social justice campaign called ‘Do It In A Dress’ for Australian NGO, One Girl. During this campaign a group of passionate Bond students wore their school uniforms for a week to raise over $3,400 which gave 11 girls in Sierra Leone the opportunity to go to school.
During the last week of November, BUUNSA will be running its annual ‘Aid for AIDS Week’ which includes ‘Don’s Goes Red’ and will be held in Don’s Tavern.
The BUUNSA team will also be selling red ribbons and bracelets and running the immensely popular ‘Underground Food Gang’, where late night study snacks such as lollies and even McDonald's are provided for students studying on campus for their upcoming exams, in return for a donation to the cause.
During the previous year, BUUNSA raised close to $4,000 during ‘Aid for AIDS Week’ and is hoping to raise even more this year to help the UN achieve its Millennium Development Goal to combat HIV-AIDS and other diseases.
For more information on BUUNSA, how you can support them or become involved, contact Alice McDonald ([email protected]).