Saving the earth while helping needy women

SMU alumna Vanessa Paranjothy co-founded social start-up Freedom Cups with her two sisters in 2015. The start-up aims to distribute menstrual cups to underprivileged women who do not have access to proper sanitation. She made last year’s Forbes 30 Under-30 Asia list, which recognises 30 outstanding individuals in various fields from social entrepreneurship to sports. She also won the Commonwealth Youth Award for Asia, which recognises young people from the Commonwealth whose innovative projects have had a significant impact on their communities.