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NEW YORK, NEW YORK— From Oct. 7- 9, 2026, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America hosted the Fall in-person meeting of its Girl Delegate Program to the United Nations. Traveling to New York City from across the country, including Florida, Oklahoma, California, and Alaska among others, almost 20 high school girls from all over the Archdiocese participated in an engaging array of activities centered around the celebration of the International Day of the Girl (IDG). Observed every year on October 11, the International Day of the Girl presents an important opportunity to recognize the unique perspectives, challenges, and aspirations of girls in the advancement of human flourishing on an international level.
With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, and with the generous support of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund and the National Philoptochos Society, the GOA Girl Delegate Program to the UN provides a platform for young women in the Archdiocese to advocate for the rights of girls around the world and to share their unique perspective as Orthodox Christians at the United Nations.
As in past years, the fall in-person program was centered around the Girls Speak Out which was held on Friday, October 9, 2026 in the Economic and Social Council Chamber of the UN in celebration of IDG. Co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Canada, Peru, and Türkiye to the United Nations, with support from UNFPA, UNICEF, and UN Women, the theme for this year’s Speak Out was “Advancing Equality, Accelerating Action Building a World Where Girls Thrive.”. Despite decades of progress, millions of girls around the world continue to face discrimination, violence, poverty and conflict that deny them their rights, restrict their choices and limit their opportunities.
A key topic of discussion was the multi-faceted consequences of child marriage that burden girls around the world. This issue was particularly emphasized in UNICEF’s theme for this year’s IDG theme: “End child marriage and investing in girls’ rights.” According to UNICEF’s 2026 estimates, one in five girls worldwide is married before the age of 18. More than 12 million girls are married before reaching adulthood each year. Nearly one in four ever-married or partnered girls between the ages of 15 and 19 has experienced intimate partner violence. In conflict-affected settings, girls are nearly 90 percent more likely to be out of secondary school than girls living in stable contexts, further increasing their risk of child marriage. Child marriage can increase the risk of social isolation, anxiety, and emotional distress at a time when self-harm remains one of the leading causes of death among adolescent girls ages 15-19 globally.
On Wednesday, Oct. 7, the GOA Girl Delegates began their Fall program with an orientation at the Archdiocese Headquarters that was guided by founding Director of the Girl Delegate Program, Niki Devaris-Morgulis. During the orientation, the Girl Delegates had the opportunity to meet one another, learn more about the mission and goals of the program, and prepare for the events ahead.
Later that day, the Girl Delegates visited the Museum of the City of New York and its “Raise Your Voice: New York Activism” exhibition. Tracing more than 250 years of activism in New York, the exhibit was organized around the four main tactics utilized by social activists throughout history: demonstrations, organizing, art and media, and direct action. One portion of the exhibit invited visitors to put the advocacy skills they learned into practice through a poster-making station, a neighborhood-focused digital interactive experience, and on-site voter registration for those 18 and older.
That evening, Girl Delegates attended “First to the Bench: A Fireside Chat with Hon. Madeline Singas, New York Court of Appeals” at Fordham Law School where Judge Singas discussed her path to law school as the daughter of Greek immigrants and journey to becoming the first Greek American judge on New York State’s highest court.
Previously: ‘I’ll start with the Greeks’: Judge Singas on heritage, public service, and opportunity
On Thursday, Oct. 8, Girl Delegates were taken on a guided tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Presvytera Maria Constantinides who encouraged the girls to explore how women have shaped history, challenged social norms, and inspired change across cultures and centuries. The tour began in the Cycladic Art section and ended in the special exhibition Costume Art. There, he delegates discovered how fashion and clothing can reflect women’s identities, experiences, and evolving roles in society. The exhibition encouraged them to think critically about the relationship between women, culture, and self-expression, while deepening their understanding of how art can tell powerful stories across generations.
The Girl Delegates then returned to the Archdiocese where Maria led an art workshop that connected their observations and reflections with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, using their creativity to design mixed-media posters that highlighted issues they care about and the importance of advocating for meaningful change. Through this experience, they gained a greater appreciation for art as a form of expression and activism and explored how their own voices can contribute to a more equitable future.
After their workshop, the Girl Delegates were received by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America in the Archdiocesan Chapel of St. Paul. His Eminence praised the efforts of the Girl Delegates and encouraged them to remain strong in their faith and proudly represent the Archdiocese.
“Men and women are equal in personhood before God, and the gifts, talents, and leadership of women are essential to the life and witness of the Church. This program puts that conviction into practice,” His Eminence stated, “We must be a Church that embraces our young people, and especially our young women.”
Previously: At the UN, Girl Delegates will carry the witness of the Church
On Friday, Oct. 9, the Girl Delegates spent the day at the United Nations, attending Girls Speak Out 2026 in celebration of the International Day of the Girl and later toured the UN Headquarters.
The Girls Speak Out, organized by the NGO Working Group on Girls along with Member-States and UN Agencies, provides an annual platform for girls from around the world to share their experiences, discuss the challenges faced by girls in their communities, and advocate for greater protections and opportunities.
GOA Girl Delegate, Theofania Nacopoulos , spoke on the second panel of the Speak Out, highlighting the importance of representation in inspiring and empowering young girls to pursue leadership opportunities. She shared her own experiences in leadership, including her involvement in student government at her school, where she was selected three times by her teachers to serve as Speaker of the House, representing the entire student body. She was also elected to join other teenagers in meeting with her state’s Attorney General to provide input on legislation addressing the risks that artificial intelligence and social media pose to teenagers.
“Slowly we will build a stronger world and we, in turn, can encourage the next group of girls to pursue greater and greater achievements, making global progress toward our Sustainable Development Goals,” she said.
In the afternoon, the Girl Delegates went on a tour of the United Nations which was specially geared toward the history of women and women’s rights advocacy at the UN.
Girl Delegates Foteini Gatsia, Nicoletta Giankopoulos, and Kateryna Davenport, participated in a mission visit to the Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations, facilitated by the NGO Working Group on Girls. At the same time, Girl Delegates Agathi Katechis and Maria Siskopoulos, participated in a mission visit to the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations.
The Girl Delegates concluded their time in New York having taken part in conversations on advocacy, leadership, faith, and the rights of girls around the world. From learning about the history of activism in New York City to bringing their own voices to the United Nations, the Girl Delegates truly embodied the purpose of the program: to empower young women to speak with confidence, advocate for others, and take an active role in shaping the future.
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