Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Surprise Teen in Zoom Mentoring Session — and Send a Gift for Spring
When a teenage girl signed on to a virtual mentoring session, she was surprised to see Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on her screen!
To celebrate International Women's Day and Women's History Month, Meghan and Harry encouraged others to "unleash a groundswell of real acts of compassion," with suggestions on their Archewell Foundation website. One idea was to "tutor a teenage girl who is navigating high school on her computer" — which Meghan, 39, and Prince Harry, 36, took on firsthand.
Through volunteer organization L.A. Works and the "I Have a Dream" Foundation, which works to ensure children have the opportunity to pursue higher education, Meghan and Harry were set up with a teenage girl — who recognized her mentors right away!
Karwai Tang/WireImage Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
"She had this moment of surprise and excitement when she got on the phone with the Duke and Duchess," L.A. Works Executive Director Deborah Brutchey tells PEOPLE. "She knew of them, she knew a lot — she had been following Meghan's story quite a bit, so she was very excited that she had the opportunity to speak with them."
RELATED: Meghan Markle's Sweet Surprise for Women's History Month — from Her Kitchen!
The Queen's Commonwealth Trust Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in a past Zoom call for The Queen's Commonwealth Trust.
Brutchey says that the young woman was "really moved" by Meghan and Harry's "compassion, humility and wisdom."
"It was really significant for her because they saw her potential in a few short minutes, which actually really undid some damage that had been previously caused by a former teacher's doubt," she explains. "It was just amazing how they were able to connect and how their compassion, in just a short conversation, really made an impact and is going to forever inspire her."
Get the premiere issue of PEOPLE Royals for glamorous new photos and inside stories royals fans haven't seen or read elsewhere! Subscribe at peopleroyals.com/launch
Samir Hussein/WireImage Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
The teenager's chat with Meghan and Harry went beyond just schoolwork.
"The conversation that they had was really about how do you overcome challenges in your life? And how do you stay true to your values? Things that are so relatable to young girls but also so public in what the Duke and Duchess have gone through," Brutchey says.
RELATED: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Celebrate International Women's Day with Acts of Compassion
Meghan and Harry noticed that the young woman had sunflowers in her room. In a sweet gesture after their call, they sent her sunflowers as well as an encouraging note.
Jeremy Selwyn - WPA Pool/Getty Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
L.A. Works connects volunteers in California with a range of issues, from animal welfare and senior services to homelessness and the arts. But anyone can follow in Meghan and Harry's footsteps and make a difference, even amid the COVID-19 crisis.
"Mentoring has been one of the most meaningful ways for volunteers to give back, especially during this pandemic. Mentors play a huge role in inspiring young minds and helping kids realize their potential," Brutchey says. "Having The Duke and Duchess share their compassion and wisdom with a young girl from the I Have a Dream Foundation helped to spark a new confidence in her and reminds all of us that it only takes a few minutes to change a person's life forever."
