BRYN HAFREN pupils got to grips with world hunger at a model UN event held in Barry recently.

As the countdown to the G8 begins, young people in Barry have been learning about the importance of the forthcoming Summit of world leaders by holding their own international negotiations.

More than 60 teenagers from nine secondary schools, including Bryn Hafren, took part in a model United General Assembly hunger conference, in advance of the G8 Summit in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, in June.

The event at the Vale Council Civic Offices held earlier in March was organised by the Council for Educations in World Citizenship Cymru, in partnership with Oxfam Cymru.

It was one of six such events taking place across Wales as part of a drive to educate young people not only about hunger, but also about addressing the causes of one in eight people going hungry every day.

These are the issues being addressed by the IF campaign in Wales, which is being run by a coalition of more than 150 UK-based organisations.

Each nation was represented by three students, who engaged in roleplay discussions exploring how global hunger should be tackled internationally.

The students, all aged between 14 and 18, had to research the country they were representing.

They prepared statements and wrote speeches explaining their country’s positions on hunger before formally debating the issues. A draft agreement was then proposed and amendments were debated.