The Dream Model United Nations Conference and Diplomatic Simulations 2025 officially opened on Wednesday, December 17, at the Foreign Service Academy on Tower Hill in Freetown, bringing together young people from Sierra Leone and beyond to engage in high level diplomatic simulations and global policy debates.
The conference, known as Dream MUN, is designed to prepare Africa’s emerging diplomats and future global leaders through structured simulations of United Nations processes, leadership training and policy dialogue. Organisers described the platform as a strategic investment in youth leadership and Africa’s voice in international diplomacy.
Delivering remarks at the opening plenary, the Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, said addressing aspiring young diplomats was a distinct honour, noting that leadership and diplomacy extend beyond formal titles and international postings. She stressed that public officials at all levels, including mayors and legislators, represent their countries on the global stage through their conduct, decisions and values.
Drawing from her academic background in International Relations and Political Economy, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr reflected on long standing global debates about power and influence. She observed that while the United States continues to wield significant influence, global dominance is increasingly contested, particularly with the rise of Eastern powers such as China. She added that influence is not determined solely by military or economic strength but also by cultural power and strategic global engagement.
Addressing participants directly, she outlined three core values she described as essential for young people seeking to translate ambition into credible leadership. She emphasized hard work as the foundation of meaningful success, warning against equating achievement solely with material outcomes. On integrity, she cautioned that dishonesty undermines both individual credibility and national development, urging participants to reject unethical shortcuts in education and public life. She further highlighted perseverance as critical, noting that resilience in the face of limited resources, exclusion or setbacks often determines long term success.
The Mayor also spoke on identity and representation, encouraging participants to engage internationally with confidence and pride in their African heritage. She acknowledged that African voices often operate from disadvantaged positions in global forums but maintained that self-belief and cultural confidence are essential tools for reshaping global perceptions.
The Mayor concluded by urging participants to pursue their ambitions with discipline, ethical conduct and resilience, stating that those values would determine whether their future reflections are marked by regret or tangible achievement.
Also speaking at the opening plenary, Ambassador Fatmata Sawaneh, Deputy Head of Mission to the Republic of Guinea, placed responsibility squarely on the shoulders of young people, describing them as future leaders who must prepare for increasingly complex global challenges. She noted that the coming decade would be particularly demanding, especially for young women and called on participants to approach the simulations with seriousness and purpose.
Ambassador Fatmata Sawaneh expressed pride in her continued engagement with the Dream MUN initiative, having previously participated in sessions in Guinea and elsewhere. She pledged support for the platform’s sustainability and growth arguing that such initiatives play a critical role in shaping Sierra Leone’s international image and leadership capacity.
She stressed that representation alone is insufficient in diplomacy, emphasizing the importance of confidence, effective communication and presence. According to her, the true test of leadership lies not in visibility but in the ability to command attention, persuade peers and influence outcomes. She linked that challenge to broader struggles for African representation globally and women’s leadership across institutions, describing both as battles for space that requires deliberate action.
Highlighting the importance of unity, Ambassador Fatmata Sawaneh said effective diplomacy depends on teamwork, consultation and collective effort. She called on African leaders and emerging diplomats to speak with a common voice in multilateral forums, including the United Nations, regardless of national, racial or gender differences.
Addressing global narratives about Africa, she rejected characterizations of the continent as poor, pointing instead to its human capital and mineral wealth. She questioned why Africa continues to attract external interest if it lacks value, arguing that recognizing and asserting Africa’s strengths is central to shifting global power relations.
On women’s leadership, the Ambassador encouraged female participants to focus on impact rather than titles, urging them to demonstrate determination, resilience and courage within professional and ethical boundaries. She cited recent examples of women asserting themselves in high level diplomatic spaces as evidence that norms can be challenged through competence and conviction.
Ambassador Fatmata Sawaneh commended the organizers for sustaining the initiative and called on senior leaders and institutions to provide tangible support to enable the platform to expand. She concluded by urging participants to dream boldly, remain focused and lead with clarity and conviction as they prepare for future roles in national and international leadership.
The Dream Model United Nations Conference continues with diplomatic simulations, committee sessions and leadership engagements aimed at strengthening youth participation in global governance and policy formulation.
