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When Evie Demakis and her fellow Girl Delegates arrived at a United Nations conference on artificial intelligence, there were no seats left. But rather than turn the young women away, officials insisted they stay, and the Girl Delegates sat on the floor to engage in a global discussion on the impact of AI.
This memory became one of Evie’s favorites from her time in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Girl Delegates to the U.N. program. Founded by Niki Devaris-Morgulis and operating through the Archdiocese’s Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith Relations, the program allows Greek Orthodox high-school girls to utilize their unique talents and uplift them to go forth and become the next generation of change-makers and peace-builders.
Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, Evie’s home parish is St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church. Evie now attends the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she is a double major in Business and Global Studies, with a focus on Middle East politics; her interests include advocacy for financial stability, sustainable development, women’s rights, and sustainability in global policy. She also enjoys golf, swimming, yoga, baking, and cooking.
Evie was a Girl Delegate in 2025, during her senior year of high school. She returned to the program this summer as an intern, assisting Niki in preparations for the 2026-2027 cohort by managing social media, contributing to strategic outreach, and streamlining the application process.
As part of her internship, Evie also works with the Working Group on Girls to plan the International Day of the Girl, an major event that coincides with one of the Girl Delegate program’s in-person conferences in New York.
Evie was inspired to apply when she saw how the Girl Delegate program uplifts Greek Orthodox women and facilitates their involvement in the church.
“I am a charter member of the St. Phoebe ministry at my home parish and was extremely interested in visible involvement of girls within the Church,” Evie says. “ The Girl Delegate program is a global manifestation of visible women’s involvement in all areas of life.”
> Previously: Girl Delegate finds her voice at the United Nations
Through the Girl Delegate program, Evie gained not only exposure to global issues and international organizations, but also a community of young women who share many of her interests and ambitions. She formed friendships with girls across the country who continue to motivate one another and talk about their goals, future aspirations, and struggles.
At the center of that community is a shared faith and culture. For Evie, the program provides an opportunity to use both to promote inclusivity and demonstrate the importance of loving one’s neighbor. It also gives young Greek Orthodox women the opportunity to become informed and active participants in their churches, communities, and beyond.
“Young girls have the opportunity to be at the forefront of decision making,” Evie says. “It is their duty to be involved, and to be well-informed representatives within their church and local community.”
Evie’s time as a Girl Delegate also helped shape the direction she hopes to take in the future. Her desire to work internationally was strengthened by the program, which showed her how much she enjoys working with people, intensified her global perspective, and exposed her to the work of international organizations firsthand.
> Previously: How the Archdiocese’s Girl Delegate Program shaped one woman’s path
From attending U.N. conferences as a high school student to now helping prepare the next cohort of girls, Evie’s involvement in the Girl Delegate program has come full circle. The program that once gave her the opportunity to take part in conversations on a global stage is now one she is helping make accessible for the young women who follow.
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