Meghan Markle was one of the many inspiring women who participated in this year’s Girl Up leadership Summit. The Girl Up campaign it is “dedicated to ensuring equal opportunities for the less privileged adolescent girls in developing countries,” and the three-day event highlights global leaders, change agents, and allies who are committed to engaging teens in conversations about gender equality. On Tuesday, the Duchess of Sussex, in the virtual delivery of a speech in which she let fall some words of wisdom with regard to the importance of speaking and encouraged young women to make a difference in the world.
“It is a great joy to speak to you today. For young women around the world that are not only about to change the world, but have already begun to change the world,” Meghan began. “I want to share something with you. Is that those in classrooms and hallways, and places of power — of the legislators and the leaders of the world to executives of all those people, who depend on you more than you will ever depend on them. And here’s the thing: they know it.”
“We have to speak for ourselves and we have to speak of others who are struggling to be heard.”
Meghan, below, shed light on all the important work the Girl Up members are doing, from organizing protests to walk and demanding to be heard. “I know that you have already done so much and made many people’s lives better. The moment we are living now asks all of us to do more. It is a time where their voice and their action, has never been more urgent,” Meghan said. “Believing in the true equality is not enough, it’s going to take more than belief. We have to work to that every day, even when it is difficult and even when it makes others feel uncomfortable. We have to speak for ourselves and we have to speak of others who are struggling to be heard.”
The duchess concluded her speech by encouraging the young women to be patient and see the change and continue pressing. “The growth and change that we pursue does not feel like something from the day-to-day, but when you look back, I promise that I will see it all adds up,” she said. “I am extremely proud of what you’ve already achieved. Please continue to honor the conviction and the compassion that stirs inside of you. I will be cheering you on, my husband, so that Archie, as all of you continue to march, to promote and lead the way forward.”
Watch Meghan’s full speech at the Girl Until the Instagram here.
Image Source: Getty / Chris Jackson
