Harvard Model Congress Europe 2026 — United Nations Security Council
To those who made this journey unforgettable.
To the most incredible people who turned what could have been just another school trip into one of the most memorable weekends of my life — most of you I barely knew before Madrid, but I will proudly call you friends for years to come. To my roommate Aitor, whose late-night conversations calmed my nerves before my very first debate and who won the Honourable Mention award in the most well-deserved fashion imaginable. To my brilliant co-delegate Rafa, with whom we pulled off some serious victories in committee and managed to pass two resolutions — making Guyana great again, one clause at a time. To Uri, Xavi, and Max, who made every dinner, every late night, and every breakfast an absolute blast. Honestly, this trip would not have been half of what it was without every single one of you guys. Thank you for everything.
To Mr Rius and Ms Sarada, who gave up their own time to mentor us, organise every detail, and make this whole experience possible — none of this would have happened without your dedication. You didn't just chaperone a trip; you gave us a weekend we'll genuinely never forget. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you both so much.
It was Friday the 13th of March — an ominous date, perhaps, but a lucky one for us. At 7:30 in the morning we boarded the train at Barcelona Sants, and by midday we had arrived in Madrid. We checked into the hotel around half past twelve, dropped our bags, and barely had time to catch our breath before heading to an Italian restaurant next door for lunch.
After a well-earned three-hour rest, we made our way to the conference venue to register. That evening, my roommate Aitor arrived on a later train, and once he'd settled in, a group of us ventured out to a Spanish restaurant for dinner. After seven months of living in Barcelona, it was my first time properly sitting down for traditional Spanish cuisine — and Aitor's pick did not disappoint. The night wound down with visits to other delegates' rooms, last-minute speech prep, and the kind of late-night conversations that only happen when you're away from home with new friends.
The next morning, thanks to a packed main breakfast room, Uri, Max, and I ended up eating separately — an accidental tradition that stuck for the rest of the trip. Then it was time. My co-delegate Rafa and I took our seats in the United Nations Security Council as the representatives of Guyana.
Our first session tackled the rights of the West Papuan people in Indonesia. Working alongside the delegates of the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, we drafted a resolution that would come to be known as the Economy for Freedom Act. By the end of the second session we had successfully passed it — while a competing bill put forward by the delegate of Panama was rejected. A quick Burger King run between sessions kept us fuelled.
Day three brought our third session: a resolution proposed by the delegate of Algeria, who would later earn the Best Delegate award. We fought hard on the floor, securing two amendments to strengthen the text. In the afternoon the committee shifted to the topic of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS), and together with the delegates of China, Panama, and Pakistan, we drafted another resolution — which passed with one friendly and one unfriendly amendment.
On the final day came the International Summit, bringing together the UNSC, WHO, and G20 committees. Our West Papua resolution was presented and passed on the global stage. What followed was a reflection session, presidential elections — the Republican candidate I supported won — and the closing ceremony where awards were handed out. Two resolutions passed, alliances forged, and not a single session where we weren't in the thick of the action. Not a bad debut.
Madrid wasn't just about committee sessions. After the second day's debates we explored the city at night, and each meal became its own little adventure. One lunch in particular — a dish Max picked for me on the third day — turned out to be one of the best things I've ever eaten. The delegate social party that evening was the perfect way to celebrate surviving three days of diplomacy.
The train ride home to Barcelona was somehow just as good as the trip itself — hours of chatting, laughing, and replaying the highlights of a weekend that felt far longer than four days.
If you ask me what I took home from HMCE, it wasn't the conference badge or the HMCE T-shirt — though both are now covered in signatures from friends and international delegates, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. What I really brought home were the friendships, the experiences, and the quiet confidence that comes from standing up in a room full of strangers and finding your voice.
Captured moments from the expedition.
HMCE Madrid 2026
Memorable Moments
The Madrid Expedition
The expedition in motion.
HMCE Madrid Highlights