February 18, 2026.– Former President of the Dominican Republic, Dr. Leonel Fernández, participated as keynote speaker at the Montessori Model United Nations (MMUN), held in the General Assembly Hall at United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
Fernández was invited in his capacity as president of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), as well as former president of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA).
In his remarks, he highlighted the positive impact that this type of academic initiative has on the comprehensive development of students and its transformative effect on new generations, called to lead in an increasingly complex and challenging international context.
“When I look around this hall, I do not see children playing politics. I see future leaders, future agents of change, future architects of the world that will emerge in the coming decades. And that fills me with hope—a hope we urgently need in these difficult times,” he stated.
The intellectual and political leader also fondly recalled his years as a student, remembering his first visit to United Nations Headquarters in New York. He noted that at the time he never imagined that years later he would return to that same venue to address the world as Head of State of the Dominican Republic.
Within the framework of the opening ceremony of the twentieth anniversary of the Montessori Model UN, the former president was recognized for his contributions to the United Nations system and for his work in promoting democratic values, especially through advancing Model United Nations programs in the Dominican Republic.
The recognition was presented by Judith Cunningham, Executive Director of the Montessori Model UN. In expressing his gratitude for the distinction, Fernández encouraged young people to persevere in the pursuit of education and academic preparation as fundamental pillars for building societies based on consensus, peace, and prosperity.
The event was also attended by Judith Cunningham; His Excellency Ambassador Omar Said Al Kathiri, Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations; and His Excellency Dionisio da Costa Babo Soares, Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to the United Nations, as well as officials from the multilateral system and conference organizers.
The Montessori Model UN annually brings together more than four thousand students from educational institutions around the world, consolidating itself as one of the United Nations models with the highest level of international participation.
