03 August 2023 , 17:46
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have united to "challenge the status quo" and fight cyberbullying in a bid to make the web a safer place for younger people.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared in a video, in which they were simply described as "Harry and Meghan" with no reference to their royal titles", have been personally phoning some of the recipients of funding to promote online safety. Their foundation, Archewell, is among 14 groups and charities giving a combined $2million (£1.57million) in funding.
In the clip, Harry and Meghan can be seen together contacting some of the 26 projects getting funding from the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund - described on its website as "a first of its kind philanthropic initiative aimed at supporting youth and intergenerationally led organizations shaping the responsible technology movement." The amount donated by Archewell has not been specified.
Harry and Meghan called recipients of the funding (rtyouthpoer.org)Trisha Prabhu of ReThink Citizens, who praised the Sussexes for the way they "challenge the status quo", said her cyberbullying project had received $50,000 (£39,000) from the fund. She added: "Can we actually stop the cyberbullying at the source, with the cyberbully via a behavioural approach that actually teaches young people to pause and rethink?" Prince Harry replied: "This is amazing. This is exactly why we do what we do. This is exactly why the Youth Power Fund was created."
While talking to Sneha Revanur, founder of Encode Justice, a youth-led organisation that fights for human rights and justice in the age of AI, Harry said: "Thank you for doing everything you do. Our kids especially are incredibly grateful." And Meghan added, smiling: "They don't know it yet, but they will."
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A statement published on the Archewell Foundation's website yesterday says: "The Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund today announced an inaugural cohort of 26 inspiring young people and organizations, selected for their groundbreaking approach to changing the future of technology. These innovators and campaigners have been awarded a total of $2 million to support their efforts to build a more inclusive, equitable, and accountable online world.
"The cohort will work on a range of innovative projects, including responsible use of artificial intelligence; improving education access; leveraging platforms to address social and environmental challenges; and promoting the safety and well-being of online communities. The Archewell Foundation is a proud founding member of this initiative and serves on the advisory committee alongside leading organizations including Omidyar Network, Hopelab, Susan Crown Exchange, Susan Reynolds, and more. In celebration of this work, co-founders of The Archewell Foundation Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex called members of the group to congratulate them on their award."