- Megan visits Southern California Welcome Project for ‘Cooking and Storytelling’
A video has emerged of Meghan Markle cooking traditional Afghan food with a group of 15 women who moved to the US from Afghanistan.
The Duchess of Sussex set up The Welcome Project in 2023 as part of her work with the Archewell Foundation, which she co-founded with Prince Harry.
Archewell previously revealed how Meghan joined the Southern California Welcome Project for an “evening of cooking and storytelling” on February 10.
A clip of the visit has now been posted on the Archewell Foundation’s website, showing the Duchess wearing an apron branded with her organisation’s name.
Meghan, 42, was pictured joining a group of women cooking traditional Afghan food, including Ashak and Mantuu, which are both types of dumplings.
The Duchess of Sussex stars in a video for the Southern California Welcome Project
The video shows Meghan Markle visiting The Welcome Project in California on February 10
In the new video, Meghan is seen cooking traditional Afghan food with a group of 15 women
An Archewell press release said the women then discussed “their personal stories and the support they find from this intergenerational group of women.”
The visit was in partnership with Mina’s List, a New York-based organization that has been working with women activists and political leaders in Afghanistan since 2014.
Archewell said that in 2021, Mina’s List helped evacuate and resettle more than 2,000 Afghan women and families “through independent and coalition efforts” — many of whom settled in Southern California.
Mina’s List and Archewell then “joined forces to provide community and support to these remarkable women as they begin to rebuild their lives in the US.”
Meghan is said to have been inspired to set up the project after her work with the Hubb Community Kitchen in West London in 2017, which was organized by a group of survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire.
Photo previously posted by Archewell of Meghan on The Welcome Project on Feb 10
Megan helped prepare food at The Welcome Project in California on February 10
Megan is seen at The Welcome Project on February 10 in a photo posted by Archewell
Archewell says the project was launched to create a “safe haven and inclusive environment for women who have recently moved to the US from Afghanistan.”
It added that the project has a “belief in the power of connection and a goal of uplifting communities” and “supports the creation of programs for women who have recently relocated from Afghanistan.”
It says there are 11 active Welcome Projects in the US, “designed to foster a sense of belonging through activities including sewing, art, hiking, swimming, photography, storytelling and cooking.”
Archewell also says, “By facilitating women-based programming, The Welcome Project also provides access to critical resources and opportunities that not only support the women involved in The Welcome Project, but also improve the lives of those around them – their families and their communities .’
The video is on the ‘programmes’ section of the Archewell Foundation website – which is different from the new Sussex.com website which launched earlier this month.
