Meghan Markle promises more time to Mumbai-based Myna Mahila Foundation
What's the story
Newly-wed Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, has promised to give more time to the Indian charity handpicked for donations in lieu of gifts for her royal wedding to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.
The 36-year-old former actress told Mumbai-based Myna Mahila Foundation founder that she was looking forward to giving more time to the women's empowerment charity.
Here are more details.
Quote
Bride was as approachable as ever, says Suhani Jalota
"The bride Meghan was as down to earth and as approachable as ever. She said that now she would be able to give more time to Myna and other humanitarian work," said Suhani Jalota, who founded the charity nearly three years ago.
Experience
Going to chapel was a heart-warming experience: Jalota
"It was just such a heart-warming experience...going to the chapel and reception afterwards made the whole thing a lot more grounded," Jalota said.
"When you perceive this from the outside, it is all about this really glamorous royal wedding but when you are actually there, you see that it's just about love and marriage and friendship and family," Jalota added.
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Two representers of foundation had made their first-ever plane journey
The colleagues of Jalota, Deborah Das and Archana Ambre, who had made their first-ever plane journey for royal wedding, described their day as a "once in a lifetime" opportunity as they shared icecreams along with over 2,600 guests invited into the castle on the day.
Charity funds
Group to raise funds for the charity in London
The group is now set for a special fundraising event titled "Chaat for Change" at Calcutta Canteen in London on Monday evening.
Das and Ambre will be cooking up some Mumbai street food such as bhel puri and pau bhaaji to raise funds for the charity.
The fourth member of the foundation, who attended the royal event, was Imogen Mansfield.
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Myna Mahila Foundation talks about taboo issues like menstrual hygiene
Myna Mahila Foundation, founded in 2015, works on getting women talking about taboo issues such as menstrual hygiene. It provides employment to women from the urban slums of Mumbai, many of whom then also go door-to-door selling the low-cost sanitary napkins they produce.
Support
Mumbai-based charity was among the seven shortlisted by royal couple
Markle was impressed by their work during a visit to India last year and had pledged her support, a promise that she kept when she and Prince Harry were shortlisting charities that would become beneficiaries of donations from people who wanted to celebrate their royal wedding.
The Mumbai-based charity became the only non-UK-based charity among the final seven shortlisted by the royal couple.
Expansion
Foundation noted hundred-fold spike in traffic since royal attention
"It will certainly go a very long way in building our credibility and getting our voice heard on a global platform," said Jalota.
The foundation has noted a hundred-fold spike in traffic to its website since the royal attention last month and plans to use proceeds raised from the donations towards expanding its network to more urban slums in Mumbai.