The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have championed 15 lesser-known “forces for change” after turning to their Instagram followers for inspiration.
Harry and Meghan’s @SussexRoyal asked the public which accounts they should follow during the month of August.
The post read: “This month we turned to you for ideas of accounts to follow featuring people, organisations and causes that you find inspiring or noteworthy.
“Thank you to each and every one of you who contributed!”
“We were so happy to learn about them and are now able to share them with you!”
A spokesman for Tiny Tickers – made up of only six staff – said they are “delighted, humbled and a bit giddy that @sussexroyal The Duke & Duchess of Sussex have chosen our tiny UK charity as one of their Forces for Change charities for August”.
We are the only UK charity dedicated to the early detection & care of babies with serious heart conditions. We’re a small charity but our results speak for themselves – we’re making a huge impact on the lives of heart families. Find out more at: https://t.co/EqLFeqVAjv pic.twitter.com/1fM859lcwF
— Tiny Tickers Charity (@tinytickers) August 5, 2019
They added: “This support is incredible and will help us enormously to explain the importance of our work improving the early detection and diagnosis of babies born with serious heart conditions in the UK – giving those heart babies a better chance in life.”
Meghan, who is known for her love of rescue dogs, and Harry also highlighted the Pawsitive Change Programme, which pairs shelter dogs with inmates in Californian prisons; as well as Free Wheelchair Mission, which designs and makes wheelchairs for disabled people in under-resourced nations; and Art of Hope, which provides trauma and PTSD relief for Syrian refugees through art therapy and vocational training.
The others accounts are the Lion Guardians conservation organisation, which promotes coexistence between people and lions; Mozambique-based Love The Oceans; Global Wellness Day, which is a not-for-profit social project dedicated to living well; and Beecause, which works to increase the global bee population.
Another of their highlighted organisations is Waves For Change, an NGO which transforms disused beaches into community-owned safe spaces in South Africa and Africa.
They are also shining a light on Children International which helps children living in poverty; children’s charity Plan International UK; and the BlinkNow Foundation, which supports a children’s home and school in Nepal.
Simon Bishop, deputy chief executive of Plan International UK, which also promotes the rights of girls through its Because I Am a Girl campaign, said: “It is amazing that Meghan and Harry are giving this international platform to girls’ issues, and we are delighted to be among their Forces for Change.
“We know the girls we work with want to see this kind of high-profile support for achieving gender equality, and we hope the Sussexes will continue to be champions for change.”
SussexRoyal thanked its followers for being “part of this collective conversation with us”, adding: “We hope everyone has enjoyed discovering many of these accounts and engaging with each other on how we can all be Forces For Change.”
Meghan guest-edited British Vogue’s September issue, entitled Forces For Change, bringing together 15 women for the cover, including actress Jane Fonda and environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg.
The 16th spot on the cover is a mirror which aims to include the reader and encourage them to use their own platforms to effect change.
