Podcast 130 – Meghan Markle & Prince Harry award grants to non-profits in honour of National Women's History Month & International Women's Day (IWD) 2022

In America the month of March is National Women’s History Month which also encompasses International Women’s Day (IWD) that in 2022 will be celebrated on March 8th. National Women's History Month has been observed annually in the United States and other countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia, every March since 1987. The month is observed in October in Canada. 

The National Women's History Alliance is known nationally (in the US) as the only clearinghouse providing information and training in multicultural women’s history for educators, community organizations, and parents-for anyone wanting to expand their understanding of the historic contributions of women. The Alliance designates a yearly theme for Women's History Month. The 2022 theme is "Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope."

Per their website, the theme, “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” is both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during the COVID pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history.

Meghan and Harry, as a couple, have  always celebrated International Women’s Day and they have now expanded this to include National Women’s History Month. As we know,  Meghan has throughout her life championed women and girls issues, first off when living in America, then as a working member of the Royal Family,  and also through the work she did when she was a humanitarian ambassador which took her to countries like Rwanda and India. 

This past week Meghan and Harry released a statement through their Archewell website, saying  "As we cross into Women’s History Month, and ahead of International Women’s Day next week, we are announcing a number of non-profit investments in leading organizations working to advance gender equity, build policies that empower women and families, ensure meaningful media representation for women, and provide women with a network of tools and support for gaining employment."

Meghan and Harry continued:  "Part of Archewell Foundation’s core commitment is to build strong, compassionate, and equitable communities across the world. Although these grants have been announced as we recognize Women’s History Month, the work these organizations do is relevant and vital every day of the year."

The four non-profits benefitting from the new financial grants are ones that Meghan and Harry have worked with before, namely: 

1.   The Center on Poverty and Inequality at the Georgetown University Law Center

2.   National Women’s Law Center

3.   The 19th

4.   The UK charity Smart Works 

Meghan has been Patron of Smart Works UK since 2019. 

All four organizations Tweeted their thanks to Meghan and Harry saying that they were thrilled to announce their partnership with the Archewell Foundation and were honoured to be one of the organizations chosen.

Meghan and Harry wrote that these investments are representative of the approach that they and their Foundation have taken and continue to take towards advancing racial and gender justice.

Please keep listening for future podcasts on all things Meghan, Harry, Archie and Lili.  Reach out to me through my blog at https://www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com/ and on twitter https://twitter.com/JeanetteSongolo

Show written and produced by Jeanette Songolo.

Please keep listening for future podcasts on all things Meghan, Harry, Archie and Lili and in the meantime watch out for other posts on all things Sussex on my blog at https://www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com/