The leaders of tomorrow are honing their skills, working to understand the world's problems and how to solve them.

Through the Model UN, a simulation of the United Nations General Assembly, students perform an ambassador role while debating topics such as gender equality, climate action, global health and more.

"Every year we have an average of about 550, sometimes 600 high school students from Western New York," said May Shogan who has run the Buffalo International Institute's Model United Nations event since 2005. "This year, we've exceeded the numbers by far. It's like 830 students."

Record participation with almost 1,000 students and staff getting to exercise diplomacy and knowledge.

"Do the statements make sense? Is it relevant to the countries that here representing?" Shogan remarked on what the judges would be looking for.

Past the official results she continues to see growth in these kids.

"It teaches students to do research, conflict resolution, right? Papers, debate, work as a team, learn beyond their curriculum, and understand the global issues that's affecting our world today," said Shogan.

Among them is Lindsay Osei-Kwabena, a 10th-grader coming from a local Catholic school.

"I feel like it's good if I do my part to be someone who tries and solve these issues," she said.

This event isn't toned down. It's the real adults of tomorrow tackling tough issues today.

"We've been researching a lot about the Israeli-Palestine war, the Yemeni war, we might be talking about the rising sea levels too," said Osei-Kwabena.

She hopes the adults in other rooms can take a look at these events and be inspired.

"This whole process of model UN is collaboration and talking with others, understanding countries' policies and just collaborating to find a common goal in the end," she said.

This almost year-long journey toward the next Model UN begins after a full day of decorum and healthy debate.

"Those are the future leaders of our world or America or whatever they end up being," Shogan said. "It's so nice to see young students care about what's happening and present themselves so well."