The founders of IPMUN are building more than Model United Nations conferences. Their larger goal is to give young people the confidence and skills to participate, lead and make their voices heard.
When Vasu Patel started IPMUN, the idea was simple: create opportunities for young people to learn through debate, discussion and leadership.
What started as a youth-focused initiative has gradually grown into a larger education platform working with students and institutions.
At the centre of this journey are Vasu Patel and Harshita Joshi, the Founder and Co-Founder of IPMUN.
Their work comes at a time when the meaning of education itself is changing.
Students today have access to more information than any previous generation. A smartphone can answer a question within seconds. Online platforms can teach almost any subject.
But there is one thing technology cannot easily replace: the ability to communicate with people, understand different opinions and lead a conversation.
That is where Vasu and Harshita saw an opportunity.
Model United Nations became one of the ways through which they could create these experiences for students.
But the founders’ approach was never meant to stop at a conference.
For a student, participating in an MUN can be intimidating at first. Standing in front of a room full of other students and speaking about an international issue is not easy.
But that discomfort is also where much of the learning happens.
A student who was once hesitant to raise their hand may eventually find the confidence to speak. A student who struggles to organise their thoughts may learn how to build an argument. Another may discover that they enjoy research, negotiation or leadership.
Vasu and Harshita have built IPMUN around these experiences.
Their belief is straightforward: young people should not have to wait until college or their first job to start developing leadership skills.
Leadership can begin much earlier.
The journey has also required the organisation to adapt.
The education sector changed significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and traditional events were forced to move online. Like many organisations, IPMUN had to rethink how students could participate, learn and connect.
Instead of treating the situation only as a challenge, the organisation explored digital formats and continued building its student community.
That period reinforced an important lesson for the founders: education cannot remain restricted to one format.
Today, students need exposure to different kinds of learning experiences.
A conference may teach them how to speak. Training may help them prepare. Mentoring can help them understand where they need to improve. Interaction with students from different backgrounds can expand their perspective.
This is why IPMUN’s work has increasingly focused on the larger idea of youth development.
For Vasu, the bigger question is not whether a student wins an MUN award.
It is what happens after the conference.
Does the student become more confident?
Can they express an idea clearly?
Can they disagree without becoming disrespectful?
Can they work with someone who has a completely different opinion?
Can they take responsibility when they are part of a team?
Can they walk into a room full of unfamiliar people and introduce themselves confidently?
These are the outcomes that matter in the real world.
Harshita’s role has been equally important in taking that vision and turning it into programmes and experiences that students and educational institutions can actually use.
Together, the founders represent two sides of the same journey—building the vision while creating the systems needed to take it to more students.
Their work also reflects a broader change taking place in Indian education.
Schools and parents are increasingly asking for more than academic performance. They want children to be confident, articulate and capable of handling situations outside the classroom.
Universities and employers are looking for students who can communicate and collaborate, not just score well in examinations.
That creates a growing need for practical learning opportunities.
The story of IPMUN is therefore not simply a story about Model United Nations.
It is a story about trying to answer a much larger question:
How can we give young people more opportunities to practise leadership before they are expected to become leaders?
Vasu Patel and Harshita Joshi are attempting to answer that question through IPMUN. In last 5 years they have trained more than 9000 students in 15+ cities
Their journey is still developing, but the direction is clear.
They want students to walk away from their programmes with more than certificates and awards.
They want them to walk away with a stronger voice, a wider perspective and the confidence to use both.
And in a world where young people will increasingly have to communicate across cultures, industries and countries, those may prove to be some of the most valuable lessons of all.
visit:
Website:https://www.ipmun.in/