The BUUNSA (Bond University United Nations Students Association) was a recipient of a United Nations Association of Australia Queensland (UNAA) Community Award this month. The award was presented 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. Bond's delegation team of 19 students won a total of ten awards between them - including two Honourable Mentions, Five Diplomacy Awards and three Best Delegates. Bond was also named the Best Overall Delegation.
The UNAA-Queensland Community Award also acknowledged BUUNSA's contribution to fostering UN principles of peace, human rights and social justice in the Bond community.
BUUNSA hosts semesterly events such as their very own Bond Model UN Conferences and Films That Matter; which include screenings of award-winning films about pertinent international issues. The events are a way to increase awareness about the work of the UN among Bond students.
BUUNSA also contributes to social justice initiatives such as their campaign earlier this month 'Do It In A Dress' for Australian NGO, OneGirl. A group of passionate Bond students wore their school dresses for a week so that girls in Sierra Leone can have the opportunity to go to school. It costs $300 to send a girl in Sierra Leone to school for a year and the students managed to raise an incredible $3,471, helping 11 girls get back in school.
If you’d like more information about BUUNSA’s fundraising initiatives, follow this link http://doitinadress.com
In week 12 this semester, BUUNSA will be running its annual 'Aid for AIDS Week'. A number of events will be run in conjunction with the week such as a party at Dons, Bond University Tavern, called 'Dons Goes Red' and fundraising by selling red ribbons and bracelets. The ever popular 'Underground Food Gang' will also take place during the week where participating students deliver late night study snacks such as coffee, lollies and even McDonald's for those students studying on campus for their upcoming exams in return for a donation.
Last year BUUNSA raised almost $4,000 and they are hoping to beat that this year to help the UN achieve its Millennium Development Goal to combat HIV-AIDS and other diseases.
Story by Alice McDonald, President of BUUNSA
Bachelor of International Relations/ Laws