Fort Smith (Nov 29/04) - A Fort Smith high school student will travel to Europe next year to learn how the United Nations operates.

Krystal Brown has been selected to attend The Hague International Model United Nations in The Netherlands, Jan. 23-28.

"I think it will be a wonderful experience," said the 15-year-old Grade 11 student from Paul William Kaeser high school.

Brown will be one of only four Canadians at the gathering, which will bring together 3,000 young people and hundreds of teachers from around the world for the 37th annual event in The Hague.

Participants will discuss major health issues facing the planet, including HIV/AIDS, SARS and the avian flu.

"I'm interested in becoming a doctor some day, so it was right up my alley," Brown said, explaining that students are supposed to suggest solutions to the health problems and then debate them.

She says she first heard about the conference through an after-school announcement at PWK.

She later completed an application form on the Internet.