Incredible mothers were once extraordinary girls, and we can all agree that access to education for little ones is critically important. Noble Laureate Malala Yousafzai spoke recently with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in honor of the International Day of the Girl. Their dialogue promoted renewed focus on access to education for girls worldwide and recovering from lost traction due to the pandemic.

Malala Yousafzai is the youngest Nobel laureate ever, and renowned for her activism for female education. A native of Pakistan, Yousafzai became arguably the most famous citizen of the country when she launched a movement to ensure girls were not stopped by the Taliban from attending school there. Meghan Markle is celebrated worldwide for her advocacy on behalf of education, the arts, the empowerment of women, and the Black Lives Matter movement. The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry have most recently been volunteers for Project Angel Food, helping get much-needed nourishment to the needy in Los Angeles during the pandemic.

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The trio joined forces to have a public discourse about girls’ educational access; the conversation was broadcast via YouTube as well as the social media outlets for Malala’s Fund. Prior to the destruction wrought by coronavirus, almost 130 million girls worldwide were shut out of educational opportunities; 20 million more could be at risk for dropping out of their current studies, experts estimate. "When young girls have access to education…it opens the door for societal success," said Markle via the broadcast. And that future achievement is in graver jeopardy than ever, explained Yousafzai; girls “are at risk of never being able to return to their schools because they are likely to be pushed into early child marriages, or they might become the breadwinners or financial supporters of their families."

The crisis of educational access must continue to be highlighted and, as Yousafzai suggests, reinforced with the fiscal resources to turn the tide. The loss of girls in school now may have a devastating impact on industry unless there is intervention. "Whether it's within science, whether it's within government," Prince Harry explained, "Women are needed more and more. To be able to fill those gaps because the opportunity is vast and, well we know, that the world will benefit exponentially from it."

In turn, Markle reiterated the importance of keeping women’s voices heard and appreciated, because it impacts more than just females,

"When a woman is present at the table, she's going to be advocating for an entire family, as opposed to a patriarchal presence."

Malala noted she was extremely grateful to have been able to complete her degree at Oxford, virtually; Meghan and Harry found that time at home meant they got to enjoy every one of son Archie’s milestones together. These, they all agreed, were positives but also privileges during a time of social upheaval. Their most important goal, through continued advocacy and activism, is to ensure girls around the globe access opportunities to learn and thrive, despite any regional or worldwide setbacks that reverberate from COVID-19.

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Source: YouTube