Sarah Ferguson Calls for Amplifying Gen Z Voices in New Role: 'They Have the Solutions' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, at the launch of the Youth Impact Council at New York Climate Week 2024.Photo:Rupert Ramsay

Rupert Ramsay

Sarah Fergusonis putting her passion into action in a future-focused new role with young people.

The Duchess, who is popularly known as Fergie, is the Founding Ambassador for the Youth Impact Council (YIC), and exclusively tells PEOPLE that what excites her most about the initiative is the potential it presents.

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York (seated) and founding partners at the launch of the Youth Impact Council at New York Climate Week 2024.Rupert Ramsay

YIC was founded at Climate Week 2024 and celebrated its inaugural initiative in New York City with a ceremony honoring a select cohort of inaugural members, with later plans to expand its membership worldwide. The Duchess has been a passionate advocate for young people over three decades of her philanthropic work, and likens it to a “university of life” to learn from the next generation — including her daughters,Princess BeatriceandPrincess Eugenie.

“It’s almost, this is the university of life for me to be learning from young people that are actually out there doing the work. It’s like Beatrice and Eugenie are out there doing the work. Eugenie does a lot withThe Anti-Slavery Collective, Beatrice does an enormous amount in technology and with dyslexia and really believes in humanity in the workplace, with compassion,” she says about some of the causes her adult daughters champion.

“I believe that all those values, I was able to help guide them into this place they are, is what I’m going to bring to the youth leaders of Gen Z,” adds the Duchess, who is aproud grandmotherto Beatrice and Eugenie’s young children.

Princess Beatrice, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, and Princess Eugenie at The Anti-Slavery Collective’s winter gala at Battersea Arts Centre in London on Nov. 29, 2023.Dave Benett/Getty

Dave Benett/Getty

“One example would be on [each of] their18th birthdaysI took them to a teenage cancer unit and I walked them around and showed them what it is to hold the hand of a young teenager who’s dying of cancer and to be able to know what it’s like and to talk to people who are very unwell and give hope,” she says. “I think that value system of giving back has always stayed with them. They’re the best examples of their values and the traditional cultures that I’m bringing to youth leaders now.”

The idea for YIC came about at New York Climate Week 2023, when it struck entrepreneur and youth advocate Anna-Grace Millward that young people aren’t usually in the room when key decisions are made. Speaking to PEOPLE about the new venture, council founder and co-chair Millward shared what it means to have the Duchess of York’s support in this mission.

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, and Anna-Grace Millward at at the launch of the Youth Impact Council at New York Climate Week 2024.Rupert Ramsay

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Founding partners at the launch of the Youth Impact Council at New York Climate Week 2024.Rupert Ramsay

Of the importance of the YIC, Ferguson adds, “We collectively thought this was an extraordinary idea. I really want to say that it’s almost my legacy, and I love that. It’s a very big moment to start Youth Impact Council and it’s in my heart and it’s authentic to what I believe. I really love being with young people because they feed me, they feed my soul. They are fun, and it keeps you young!”

source: people.com