The EYM Project Invited to Participate in UN Summits in Mexico and Egypt

This Fall, The EYM Project had the incredible opportunity to bring our mission to a number of international stages, beginning in Mexico and continuing in Egypt, as we participated in major United Nations–hosted forums focused on cities, youth, and sustainable futures.

Emma Stevens and Carter Chiasson from The EYM Project at Giza, Egypt

World Habitat Day 2024 — Queretaro, Mexico

In October, we travelled to Queretaro, Mexico for UN World Habitat Day, where we spent the week performing, sharing stories, and speaking about our work at The EYM Project. Carter and Emma both participated in panel discussions, speaking about their work at the intersection of the arts, education, and community building. Connecting with people from around the world through music, storytelling, and conversation set the tone for a busy, inspiring season ahead and reminded us how powerful the arts can be in helping young people share their voices across cultures.

Emma Stevens performs at World Habitat Day in Queretaros, Mexico.

World Cities Day 2024 — Alexandria, Egypt

Our journey then continued to Alexandria, Egypt on October 31st, where we re-joined some of our new friends from Queretaro along with many new global partners to celebrate World Cities Day. Set against the historic backdrop of one of the world’s most culturally rich cities, we spoke about our passion for empowering youth through the arts and the vital role creative expression plays in building inclusive, resilient communities.

Carter Chiasson takes part in a panel at World Cities Day. Alexandria, Egypt. 2025.

Emma Stevens. Alexandria, Egypt. October 31, 2024.

World Cities Day brought together passionate changemakers, urban thinkers, and youth advocates from around the world. Connecting with so many like-minded individuals reaffirmed what drives our work every day: the belief that when young people are given access to creative tools, mentorship, and platforms for expression, they gain confidence, voice, and agency within their communities. Sharing EYM’s work in this global context was both humbling and deeply energizing.

Alexandria, Egypt.

Beyond the forum itself, Alexandria offered a powerful reminder of how culture, history, and community shape cities. Experiencing the city’s rich artistic heritage and vibrant street life reinforced the importance of placing creativity at the heart of urban development—especially when it comes to engaging and uplifting young people.

World Urban Forum 2024 — Cairo, Egypt

Following World Cities Day, we traveled to Cairo, where we spent several days preparing for our participation in events at the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12), one of the UN’s premier global conferences on sustainable urbanization. As we immersed ourselves in discussions, planning sessions, and collaborations, we also took time to experience more of this remarkable country and reflect on how global policy conversations connect back to the lived realities of youth on the ground.

Cairo, Egypt.

Emma takes part in a panel at the 2024 World Urban Forum. Cairo, Egypt.

Being part of these international UN forums is a meaningful milestone for The EYM Project. It signals growing recognition that arts-based youth engagement is not a “nice to have,” but an essential component of healthy communities and sustainable development. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute our perspective, learn from others, and continue building relationships that will strengthen our work at home and abroad.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to UN-HABITAT for the invitation, support, and leadership in creating spaces where youth voices and creative approaches are valued.

This journey is just one chapter in a much larger story, and we’re excited to share more along the way.

-Carter