Meghan Markle Hosted A Roundtable Discussion With The Next Generation Of Young Women Activists

Duchess Meghan further proved that she's an advocate for the next generation of girls.

Per Archewell's official website, the Duchess of Sussex hosted a roundtable discussion with members of Girls Inc. and the National Women's Law Center that gave young girls a platform to speak about the "breadth of challenges their generation is facing at this moment." The virtual discussion included a passionate group of 13- to 18-year-olds (primarily girls of colour) who are solidifying their roles as burgeoning activists around subjects of "education, social justice, and health and wellness in their own schools and communities."

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The roundtable participants spoke openly about some of their everyday struggles navigating girlhood, school, mental health, and identity, as well as how some of those experiences have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. When the panelists were asked about what they felt their generation needed to thrive in the year ahead, they expressed a common need for "acknowledgement, support, empathy, and resources." Meghan also asked the group of girls to reflect on some of their favourite trailblazing women activists throughout history. Women such as civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer and South Asian immigration advocate Kala Bagai were mentioned as historical figures that still inspire today's young women.

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"Girls Inc. is proud to have participated in a roundtable with The Duchess of Sussex and Archewell Foundation, along with the National Women's Law Center, that elevated the voices and experiences of girls. We believe girls are innately powerful and the leaders our future needs," said the president and CEO of Girls Inc., Stephanie J. Hull, in a statement shared with BAZAAR.com."We were honoured to have Girls Inc. girls join The Duchess in a discussion about the issues that most affect them and the ways in which we can work together to drive social change and create a more compassionate and equitable world. We are grateful to have The Duchess as a champion and advocate for girls and women."

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The president and CEO of the National Women's Law Center, Fatima Goss Graves, also expressed her gratitude for the Duchess of Sussex and Archewell for providing a safe space for the group of girls to advocate for themselves and the work they hope to accomplish in the coming years.

"The National Women's Law Center is thrilled to have joined The Duchess of Sussex and our friends at Girls Inc. to hear from girls directly about the challenges they are facing and their dreams for a more just and equitable future," said Graves in a statement. "Our work is always guided by those who are closest to the problem, and that is perhaps most true of our work in support of girls—and their right to learn and live with safety, equity, and dignity. In this moment as we begin to imagine what it is like to reopen and recover from the pandemic, we must seize the opportunity to centre the experiences of girls—especially girls of colour and LGBTQ+ youth—in how we reimagine our culture and curriculum, our policies and our priorities."

This article originally appeared on Harper’s BAZAAR US.