Jacinta Gulasekharam is an impact-driven social entrepreneur and connector. In 2016, she co-founded Dignity NZ, which provides buy-one-give-one period products in the workplace and has given away more than 50,000 period products in that time.
The 26-year-old lobbied to make menstrual products free in schools, which the government finally did last year. Born in Feilding, she was the winner of the Wellbeing Impact Award 2021 and a finalist for Young New Zealander of the Year 2022.
Gulasekharam lives in Wellington with her fiancé, journalist Jason Walls. She will speak this weekend about her advocacy journey at the Festival for the Future.
I WISH, 10 YEARS AGO, I KNEW…
That I was good enough. I wish I had known that I didn’t have to change anything about myself and that I was good and perfect just the way I was. Ten years ago I was 16 and influenced by things like prom season – did I look as good as the other girls?
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Growing up, I was all the time comparing myself to others of different body types, ethnicities, and diets, in addition to the Photoshopped images in magazines. It’s worse with social media now, but the only opinion that really matters is the one you have about yourself. I wish I had accepted who I was and seen the beauty in all my attributes, inside and out.
I WISH I COULD EXCHANGE LIVES WITH…
Jacinda Ardern for today. I would like to experience what it is like to be her one day. I remember meeting her in 2020 at the Positive Periods working group and she served cups of tea. I remember thinking, what should she do next?
Reuters
Jacinda Ardern announced free sanitary products in all schools in February 2021.
I WISH EVERY DAY I COULD EAT…
My fiancé’s chicken mango salad. It’s so good. He makes it with a delicious dressing and cashew nuts. I like fresh food.
THE PERSON I WISH TO BE ON A BANKNOTE IS…
Lisa King, the founder of Eat My Lunch. Her social enterprise has had a huge impact and inspired me to start my own social impact businesses. She is one of the incredible Asian women I look up to. Eat My Lunch has given away 1,700,000 meals to hungry school children.
Cameron Burnell/Fairfax NZ
Lisa King – co-founder of Eat My Lunch.
THE SOUND I WISH I COULD NEVER HEAR AGAIN IS…
The Covid Text Alert System. There’s always fear when you hear that alarm, wondering what’s going to happen. As soon as it went off to signal the first shutdown, I was shocked when it went off again. Hopefully we don’t have to listen to that anymore – hopefully those days are behind us.
I wish I could spend a Sunday with…
My grandmother Aachchi. Aachchi is Sinhala for grandmother. She is 91 and moved into a new retirement home in Hobsonville earlier this year. I was unable to visit her due to Covid.
I learned so much about my Sri Lankan heritage from her. I used to stay with her during school holidays and we would bake waffles in the morning. I am very close to her and call her often to get her grandmotherly advice on whatever I am going through in life. I remember being worried when the Covid-19 pandemic was new and she told me “this will pass”, which gave me a new perspective. Talking on the phone is not the same as giving her a big hug.
I WISH I COULD LIVE IN…
Maui, Hawaii. I went there on vacation with a friend in 2018 and it was the most pristine, serene place. The best part was a surprise gift from my friend to snorkel with turtles. Maui reminds me of some of the beaches in Abel Tasman that are so secluded and you can see right across the ocean. It was so hot and I felt so relaxed.
Kevin Stent/Things
“I have great hopes that New Zealand will become more successful in terms of housing, transport and our social problems.”
I Wish NEW ZEALAND WAS MORE…
Ambitious. We have many challenges, which can seem overwhelming. I have great hopes that New Zealand will become more successful in housing, transport and our social issues. New Zealand should be the favorite place to live, where we can live a comfortable, fulfilling life.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how we can bring about more competition in the grocery industry to lower prices. How can we use alternative building materials and encourage trade as a great career option? We are a small and powerful country with more than enough willpower to ensure that people do not run out of food, housing or education.
Jacinta’s quick photos:
FASHION WEEK or ART FESTIVAL
ROUND TRIP or CITY HOLIDAY
NEW DRESS or OLD FAVORITE
TELL A JOKE or HEAR A JOKE
POOL or OCEAN
SKI PILLING or TROPICAL HOLIDAY
CINEMA OF NETFLIX
SMALL CITY or BIG CITY
TALK or LISTEN
CHARITY or COMPANY
SUMMER or WINTER
TO COOK or GARDEN
BUSH WALK or BEACH WALK
NIGHT IN or NIGHT OUT
SAVE IT or TO SPEND
DREAM or PLAN