Landell Mills organises first EU Mini Model event in Dushanbe, Tajikistan

The first EU Mini Model event has taken place in Tajik National University, Dushanbe. The event is part of the EC-funded project, 'European Union Cooperation in Central Asia: Visibility Events', which is being managed by Landell Mills.

The EU Mini Model activity aims to enhance students' knowledge of EU institutions, their functions, agenda-setting and policy-making procedures, as well as to highlight EU support for, and advocacy of, human rights. The event in Dushanbe, is the first of four EU Mini Model events that will take place under the #EU4HumanRights campaign, which has been developed by Landell Mills. The other events will take place in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

During the event, the students were divided into teams and began by researching a particular EU-related issue. Following this, a role play activity took place which saw the students become representatives of EU Member States; preparing draft resolutions, developing strategies, negotiating, resolving conflicts and navigating the EU's rules of procedure.

Throughout, the teams were monitored by a panel, which consisted of Mahbuba Abdulloeva, Press and Information Officer for the EU Delegation to Tajikistan, Yelena Serebrennikova, Team Leader for the Landell Mills project, and three representatives from the university. The panel watched all the teams' presentations, before collectively deciding on winners for the following categories: best delegate, best negotiators, and best speakers.

The event concluded with an award ceremony, which was led by the Dean of the University. The winning students received a special certificate and prize, before all participants were presented with a certificate of appreciation, and a branded EU t-shirt and cap.