We recently connected with Ceylan Rowe and have shared our conversation below.
Ceylan, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I got my work ethic from my parents. Growing up with immigrant parents, they didn’t have the generational wealth that others had. They came to a new country at different times and for different reasons, but they fell in love and got married. They worked and built a life where I got to witness a work ethic that put their customers first, never complained about the task that needed to be done, and was grateful for everything no matter how big or small.
Their work ethic shaped me to be the entrepreneur that I am today.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Fihri is driven by the mission to end period poverty sustainably.
The inspiration behind launching Fihri came from my own daughter’s experience with her period. I wanted to ensure she had access to healthier and environmentally friendly period products. It was during my time as a former Commissioner for the MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women that I became aware of the alarming issue of period poverty. At Women’s Advocacy Day at the State House, I heard eighth graders teaching sixth graders to use toilet paper as makeshift period pads. This shocked me, as I realized that period poverty was a problem even in Massachusetts, affecting over 5,000 students in need of period products.
The scope of the problem extends beyond Massachusetts. In the United States, one out of five students lack access to period products, and globally, a staggering 500 million menstruators cannot afford them. Despite the magnitude of this global issue, it receives very little attention.
To address this problem, Fihri offers student sponsorship programs where individuals or businesses can support students in need. Fihri also organizes “Period Paloozas,” engaging and enjoyable team bonding events where groups come together to create sustainable period kits. These kits are then donated to schools in their local communities, making a difference in the lives of those affected by period poverty.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
3 skills that have been most impactful on my journey include:
1. Empathy allows us to understand and connect with others on a deeper level. It involves putting ourselves in someone else’s shoes and seeing the world from their perspective. By doing so, we can gain insights into their emotions, experiences, and challenges. By having empathy I recognized that the challenges people face when they can’t afford period products can result in missed school days and work. This impacts their future and financial stability and independence.
2. Entrepreneurial Mindset: Developing an entrepreneurial mindset is crucial for navigating the challenges of launching and growing a social enterprise like Fihri. This includes being proactive, embracing calculated risks, and maintaining a problem-solving attitude. It involves thinking creatively, being adaptable to change, and seeking innovative solutions to address period poverty effectively.
3. Relationship Building with community leaders, students, nurses, schools, partner organizations and potential sponsors, is critical for Fihri’s success. Fostering collaborations helps build the necessary relationships with key stakeholders to help menstruators in need and for Fihri to have a larger impact.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Absolutely! Fihri is actively seeking partnerships and collaborations with students, organizations, individuals, and businesses. Together, we can host engaging Period Paloozas, where we create sustainable period kits, and make a difference in the lives of those in need. Additionally, there are opportunities to sponsor students who require free period products. Join us in our mission to end period poverty by becoming a valued partner with Fihri.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wearefihri.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearefihri/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearefihri
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fihri/?viewAsMember=true
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvCPi-dkIsi-QOmzKOHHgYQ
