Inside the UN Event Celebrating Swarovski Foundation’s Creatives for Our Future 2025 Cohort
The Swarovski Foundation and the United Nations gathered to celebrate a new class of young global changemakers—offering funding, mentorship, and a spotlight on creativity as a force for sustainable impact.
Inside the UN Event Celebrating Swarovski Foundation’s Creatives for Our Future 2025 Cohort
Moemen Sobh, Blossom Eromosele, Azra Firmansyah, Aurélie Fontan, Barimah Asare, and Mangesh Kurund attend Swarovski Foundation Creatives For Our Future 2025 on April 24, 2025 in New York City. Image: Dave Kotinsky via Getty Images for Swarovski.
Events are like people. I don’t want to know until I know.
The Swarovski Foundation, of Swarovski crystal fame, was established in 2013 under founder Daniel Swarovski’s belief that, “to achieve lasting change, you must think not only of yourself but also of others.” Its program, Creatives for Our Future, highlights intelligent youths with proven tangible projects that further United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In fact, the global grant program was designed in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Partnerships to identify and accelerate the next generation of creative talent. Now we’re caught up.
A Design Celebration at United Nations Headquarters
I pass security. Whew. I’m off to a great start. Six winners are being honored tonight, each of whom will receive €20,000 funding as well as mentorship to help develop and scale their efforts.
Luckily, I interviewed everyone yesterday, so I can just party today.
“Do you have a drink that tastes like peace?” I honor the UN. “Sparkling cider,” the bartender offers. “Orange-Cranberry.” Peace involves no alcohol at the UN.
Four of the six honorees emerge from the green room. I feel like a fan at a meet and greet. “Hi!” They've prepared their speeches and are entering the room as featured guests.
“Do you want a picture?” I ask as they stand next to the physicalization of all their hard work and prepare for what happens next. An Instagram-worthy photo without the Instagram motivation… is one still allowed to take photos?
Emily Ming-An Wang at the United Nations Headquarters. Image: Emily Ming-An Wang.
This private event space lives on the very top of the building, where long glass walls oversee the waterfront view of New York City with bridges, Brooklyn, and hope. I would live here. Outside, the spacious 1:1 indoor to outdoor ratio space allows a closer look of the UN garden where Cherry Blossoms are in bloom, and a delegate’s party socializes at the deck below. It’s finally warm enough to not hide.
Along with those from Swarovski, I meet past award honorees, other writers covering the event, and even a few party crashers. “Someone pointed me here.” With a Getty Image-worthy step-and-repeat, stage with the Swarovski clear Foundation plaque podium, and clear mission statements from the winners, this is a party that seems worthy of a crash.
“How’s the coffee? Are there free-pizza-Fridays? Are dogs allowed?”
“It’s a bureaucracy,” one will have to repeat this several times during our conversation. “All the countries have to pay to join, so not all the countries would be happy if we spent their money on free pizza.” This is a concept that’s still difficult for me to understand because what country would be against free pizza?
When I was a member at Zero Bond, I would often sneak into the private parties, but because I was a member, I was often recognized by staff. But even I was not always allowed all access to Zero Bond parties on Zero Bond soil. And I also paid to join.
“You’re just here for the free food,” a host of a event concerning nuclear nonproliferation once told me.
“No,” I silently responded, “I was here for the reception, but these two slices of a vegetarian sandwich [even though I’m not vegetarian] will suffice.” I even stayed for the unadvertised discussion, “Just Say No! to Nuclear Bombs”.
To their credit, I never had a definite stance on nuclear bombs other than a second grade school report on Einstein and watching Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. I assume everyone would say no to bombs. Through the speakers, however, my self-awareness awares. I’ve never encountered war or those who would say yes to bombs.
Oppenheimer spent $100 million to indirectly spread the message of atomic bombs that resulted in almost $1 billion box office profit and seven Oscars.
Swarovski Foundation and UN Celebrate Youth, Creativity, and Change
Chief Executive Officer of Swarovski Crystal Business, Alexis Nasard speaks onstage during Swarovski Foundation Creatives For Our Future 2025 on April 24, 2025 in New York City. Image: Dave Kotinsky via Getty Images for Swarovski.
Various speakers inspired the importance of the Swarovski Foundation, including CEO of Swarovski Alexis Nasard, touching on how there’s no such thing as too much creativity, and the reality that early efforts need funding as well as mentorship to thrive.
Director of the Swarovski Foundation Jakhya Rahman-Corey expresses how young people challenge the status quo. How the UN and Swarovski perfectly symbolized their partnership with the beautiful UN circle motif in colorful Swarovski crystal circle pins (available in-store). For which I will pun-ily circle back to Nasard’s remarks about the need for joy, amongst both a bright side and a dark side. (Forgive me.)
UN Partnerships and Swarovski Foundation have used their international presence to highlight what would otherwise be hard to hear messages from those who have personalized how they want to improve life. May we all be inspired to create positive change in the world the way these young inventors have.
A New Sense of Peace
“You’re on international land right now,” he informs.
“Why aren’t there pirates?” I pointed to the obvious body of water.
“I don’t know,” he admits.
He runs into his friend, where they discuss topics overflowing with meaning. Office. Hours. Crisotunity.
“Crisotunity?”
“Crisotunity. Crisis, opportunity. Breakthrough or breakdown.”
As I exit onto the ground level, I walk into an ebullient gathering. People dancing to loud live music, empanadas, and an open bar with no more clean glasses. It’s an Indigenous People Conference, and it’s an Indigenous People party. Literally.
Perfect. I needed an afterparty at 8pm that makes me feel like I did something social after work, even if that something social is still at work. From the sidelines, I bounce along to the beat of Mariachi music, watching those in native dress dance with those of global dress.
Party is universal. Party is peace. There is no “fun” without “UN”. As I step away from international lands, I see him, smiling at me, I have no choice but to approach.
“Dog!” I pet the golden retriever. Yes, there are dogs at the UN, even if these dogs are working security.
I identified a crisis (no dog), and found opportunity (dog). I can now return back from my trip on international land of United Nations Headquarters of New York City to my local land of New York City, twenty steps away, knowing I overcame, I overcome, I crisotunity.
Learn more about the Swarovski Foundation here. Learn more about Swarovski Foundation’s collaboration with United Nations Office for Partnerships here. Learn more about Creatives for Our Future application details and deadlines here.
During a celebration at the United Nations, we sat down with the finalists in Swarovski Foundation’s Creatives for Our Future 2025 cohort, discussing everything from sustainable design, e-waste, and how place influences solutions.