WELCOME TO AUSMUN 2026!
Conference Date
September 26, 2026
AUSMUN XI - Horizon: A New Dawn of Diplomacy
Delegates,
As we continue to rise to prevalence and power as young advocates for diplomacy, it is up to us to define the objective tones and values that will dictate a new generation of geopolitics. In this transitional time, it is imperative that the noise of conflict, transaction, and backwards movement inform our stances rather than force them, and widen our viewpoint rather than blind us. At AUSMUN XII, we hope delegates will set their gaze forward: towards the horizon.
The horizon, in a greater scope, is a continuous glimpse of brighter days. From any point on either hemisphere, the horizon is a sure promise of the setting and rising sun. And while we may place our feet on different ground, we all look to the same sky and share the same tomorrow. As diplomats, the prospect of a new dawn looms over each trial and tribulation we sort through, reminding us of the future we seek to serve. Each AUSMUN committee is an exploration of a horizon uncharted, an opportunity to foster collaborative and nuanced progress. In the Commission on the Status of Women, we look towards a horizon of self actualized liberation for women across developing nations. In the Security Council, we shrink the ideological aisle to work towards a horizon of promised belonging for all humans regardless of birthplace. In the commission on narcotic drugs, we seek a horizon in which those shackled to addiction disease are able to live autonomous and contented lives under a purified substance economy. Through our own impassioned discussion, we are able to speak these horizons into existence, and transform tension into resolution.
For the last 80 years, United Nations officials have done just this: Setting standards only to exceed them, and charting horizons just to cross them. Today, as we inch ever closer to the encompassing 2030 Sustainable Development promise, it is vital that we work comprehensively and with these set of goals in mind. In the UNICEF committee, for example, delegates will simultaneously strive to meet Sustainable Development Goals one, four and sixteen by drafting international guidelines on child marriage, ensuring a future for the most vulnerable global citizens. Through the frameworks developed by leaders before us, we are able to bolster the humanitarian prosperity of tomorrow.
It was the former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who so articulately said "you must learn to be still in the midst of activity and to be vibrantly alive in repose”. Delegates, as you navigate both lively debate and solemn reflection, I hope you allow her words to linger in your mind and continue your diplomatic journeys towards new horizons.
Warmly,
Asa Wilson
Undersecretary of Crisis
Esteemed Delegates and Sponsors,
My name is Talia Tidmore and this year I am honored to serve as the Secretary General of AUSMUN 2026.
As I enter my third year in Model UN and final year at Austin High, I could not be more excited to share the incredible experiences that AUSMUN has given me. A program that prides itself on inclusivity, diplomacy, and creativity, Austin High MUN has grown to be one of the largest programs in AISD and an extremely important community to me. Model United Nations is a place where students can grow in all aspects of becoming future leaders. From public speaking to controversial compromises, watching students (including myself) experiment and grow at every conference has been one of the most rewarding experiences. I cannot wait to extend this opportunity to delegates at AUSMUN 2026.
Our board has worked tirelessly in cultivating a thorough yet innovative conference, anticipating AUSMUN’s largest attendance ever. This year we are excited to offer a multitude of topics and committees that are open to delegates of all Model UN experiences. In reference to this year’s theme, we hope to foster collaboration and watch delegates step out of their comfort zones, exceed expectations, and chase new horizons. In a world that is constantly challenging us, it is essential that we too, the youth of tomorrow, push past limitations and find the future that we are seeking. This year at AUSMUN we are holding our delegates to high expectations, not to speak the loudest or voice their opinions the most, but to collaborate, learn, and grow with goals that are limitless, to lead us to a prosperous future.
By partnering with Helping Hand Home, Austin High Model UN is supporting dedication to empowering our future generations. The local nonprofit is committed to caring for children in Austin who have experienced trauma by offering residential, foster, adoption and support services. The organization’s core values of quality, awareness, and opportunity align directly with what AUSMUN’s outreach program hopes to instill and accomplish with our theme of broadened horizons. We are proud to be working with Helping Hand Home and of their impact on our local community.
On behalf of the AUSMUN Secretariat and the entirety of Austin High Model UN, thank you for joining us this year as we work to approach new opportunities on the horizon. AUSMUN would not be possible without you all. See you on September 26th!
Sincerely,
Talia Tidmore
Secretary General
Message From the Secretary General
This year's Charity: helping hand home
Message from Pya Sipkowski
Hi, my name is Pya Sipkowski, and I am the Undersecretary of Outreach. I am so elated to have the opportunity to be a part of Austin High’s Model UN program and get to contribute to our 2026 AUSMUN conference. I am more than excited to announce our selected charity for this year’s conference. Helping Hand Home!
Helping Hand Home is a local non-profit organization dedicated to aiding children that have experienced complex trauma. The organization began in 1893, when a newborn baby was found in a shoebox in Austin’s railway station. When word spread about this baby girl, several women stood up and took her into their own homes to give her the care she needed. From then on, the women bought a small cottage on Guadalupe Street to continue providing help to babies in need. Today, Helping Hand Home is located in the Hyde Park Neighborhood, and has evolved from not only a basic childcare facility helping neglected and abandoned children, to now a residential treatment center for children who have gone through extreme abuse and neglect. The Helping Hand Home provides children from birth to 21 years old and includes therapeutic foster care.
Visit Helping Hand Home for more information about the organization and its impact. There are some great ways to help in Helping hand’s mission, such as volunteering and donating. The support and protection of children in need will always be of high importance in our Austin community. Austin High Model UN is honored to support Helping Hand Home in this year’s conference.
Sincerely,
Pya Sipkowski
Undersecretary of Outreach
