Young Diplomats Programme

The Young Diplomats Programme is an international youth programme of the United Nations Association Estonia that prepares young people from Estonia to participate in the world’s most realistic simulations of the UN and other international organisations. The programme combines preparatory training, meetings with diplomats and experts, and international study visits that enable participants to experience diplomacy in its most authentic environment.

The programme was created in 2025 to make such opportunities more accessible to young people in Estonia. Although many young Estonians participate in Model UN conferences across Europe every year, only a few reach the world’s leading simulations held at the headquarters of international organisations.

The idea for the programme grew out of the personal experience of United Nations Association Estonia member Bogdan Janakov. After participating in a WFUNA simulation in New York, he recognised how much such an experience could contribute to a young person’s development—and how difficult it was to access without support and preparation. This inspired the creation of a programme that would help the next generation of young Estonians reach the world’s most prestigious international simulations.

Following nearly a year of preparation, the programme’s first cohort began in early 2026. The first scholarship place was supported by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the remaining delegation members funded their own participation. Since then, the Young Diplomats Programme has developed into an international development programme of the United Nations Association Estonia for young people seeking to deepen their knowledge of diplomacy and international relations.

The programme begins with preparatory training in Estonia, where participants learn about the working methods of international organisations, diplomacy, negotiations and Estonian foreign policy. They meet diplomats, public officials and subject-matter experts and prepare for the simulation both academically and practically.

The preparation is followed by an international study visit during which participants represent Estonia at the world’s leading simulations, meet young people from other countries and visit the headquarters of international organisations.

The Young Diplomats Programme focuses on international simulations held at the actual headquarters of the UN and other international organisations. These are not conventional Model UN conferences, but highly realistic learning experiences that follow the working methods of international organisations and bring together young people from around the world.

Global Model UN New York (known until 2026 as WFUNA International Model United Nations—WIMUN) is one of the world’s most prestigious and realistic UN simulations. Unlike many other Model UN conferences, it follows the UN’s actual rules of procedure and working methods as closely as possible.

The simulation is organised by the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) in cooperation with the UN, and its opening ceremony traditionally takes place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Participants assume the roles of diplomats representing UN Member States, negotiate, draft resolutions and seek compromises in the same way as real UN committees.

One distinctive feature of the simulation is its emphasis on consensus. Unlike many other simulations, resolutions and amendments are not put to a vote; instead, the aim is to reach a solution that every delegation can support. This working method makes the simulation unique and closely aligned with the UN’s actual decision-making process.

Global Model WHO is the world’s only simulation held at the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. It focuses on global healthcare and public health issues and gives participants an opportunity to experience the WHO’s decision-making process within the organisation’s own working environment.

As in a UN simulation, participants work in international delegations, negotiate and seek shared solutions to global problems. The programme aims to give young people the most realistic possible understanding of how international organisations actually operate.

Each year, the Young Diplomats Programme offers one scholarship place to support an outstanding and highly motivated participant. The availability of the scholarship depends each year on programme funding and support from partners. The remaining participants cover their own participation costs.

The United Nations Association Estonia supports all programme members through preparation, training, mentoring and organisational assistance. We believe that international experience should be accessible to as many young people as possible, and we are working to support even more participants in the future.