EFFORT TO KEEP GIRLS IN SCHOOL
Low-cost alternative to sanitary pads
SHAMILA Ramjawan’s business is not just about profits but about providing care to many girls and women by providing the PrincessD menstrual cup on the market.
A business deal with Olympic track champion Caster Semenya – whose image adorns the packaging – has raised the profile of Ramjawan’s product and boosted business.
Ramjawan is the founder and CEO of Princess D menstrual cup, a division of her company Famram Solutions. She said her menstrual cup provides a low-cost alternative to sanitary pads. It is hoped the cup will go a long way to alleviate the problem of girls missing school during their periods just because they cannot afford pads.
Ramjawan said the menstrual cup is more cost effective, hygienic, and eco-friendly. She said it is ideal for sports activities because it provides leak-free protection and lasts up to 12 hours, depending on the flow.
She said that Semenya has also invested financially in Famram, and acts as the product’s ambassador.
“Caster Semenya and I share the same vision, as we want to make a difference in the lives of our girls. It’s our calling to give back.
“I am very excited as I believe we share the same vision in changing the lives of many girls,” said Ram- jawan.
The businesswoman said at first her focus was on rural and impoverished areas but upon the launch of the menstrual cup, she realised that it was an essential product for girls and women everywhere.
“I realised there was a dire need to research the menstrual cup as a sustainable solution for menstruation. I discovered that girls in the rural areas miss up to five to seven days of school in a month and that the most viable solution would be the menstrual cup; it’s been around since the 1930s, evolving with time, and is a sustainable solution with its long lifespan.
“After thorough research I decided to launch my own brand of menstrual cups, which I named after my daughter Daksha, whom I used to call PrincessD from a very young age.”
Late last year Ramjawan and Semenya visited the athlete’s former school on a Christmas campaign called “Keeping girls in school during menstruation”.
All the girls at Semenya’s former village school, Nthema Secondary, received a PrincessD menstrual cup.
“We also sponsored 120 cups to Miss Earth USA in 2016 and Miss SA Top 12 finalists in February [this month].”
Ramjawan advises young people to hold on to their dreams.
“Do not lose your confidence, focus on yourself and never give up.
“Start by loving yourself, and then believe in yourself. We all have fallen and jumped up again. So, pick yourself up and be proud of who you are.” She encourages young people to be avid readers because knowledge is something that cannot be stolen or taken away.
Ramjawan said she and Semenya met in August last year at a celebratory dinner for the “Woman: Real Architects of Society” awards.
Both were nominated in different categories.
The two had a chat and discovered that they shared the same vision to uplift disadvantaged girls and keep them in school.
Multiple attempts to get comment from Semenya regarding her involvement with the PrincessD initiative were unsuccessful.
“Caster Semenya and I share the same vision for girls