Cosmetic brand empowers youth living with albinism

Standard People
BY CHELSEA MUSAFARE Royal Secrets Cosmetics may be an aesthetic company, but its love for others has seen the business starting a trust fund to reach out to those living with albinism. In an interview with Standard Style, the brand’s marketing manager, Taropafadzwa Mudzingwa  said the brand, which has been operational for the past three […]

BY CHELSEA MUSAFARE

Royal Secrets Cosmetics may be an aesthetic company, but its love for others has seen the business starting a trust fund to reach out to those living with albinism.

In an interview with Standard Style, the brand’s marketing manager, Taropafadzwa Mudzingwa  said the brand, which has been operational for the past three years, continues to grow bigger and better.

“The Royal Family Trust Fund was started in 2018. We started donating ever since the birth of our trust fund. We provide sunscreens, food hampers, medical funding and school fees for the people living with albinism,” Mudzingwa said.

He said the company was inspired to make a difference to people living with albinism as they face a number of social challenges in Zimbabwe.

“The idea came as a way of us giving back to the society. We chose people living with albinism because they are discriminated against and stigmatised,” Mudzingwa said.

“Not only are we a shoulder for them to lean on in terms of funding, but rather we are also there to educate people about albinism and help fight the stigma in the society.

“We give out our donations to those who are signed under our Royal Trust Fund as well as those from our partner, which is Integration of People with Albinism Association.”

The initiative has seen 50 people living with albinism receiving funding, sunscreen lotions and food hampers every month.

“We give every beneficiary sunscreen monthly and food to those who are less fortunate,” Mudzingwa said.

“Medical funding and school fess are provided for when necessary. Fifty people are under us. We do not only help individuals, we also adopt other organisations and fund them.

“If one wants to be a beneficiary, he or she can contact us or send a message on our social media pages, in order to get registered”

Mudzingwa said the organisation has not been spared by the effects of the pandemic Covid-19.

“This year we had planned to host an event on June 13, which is World Albinism Awareness Day meant to appreciate and celebrate the contributions that people with albinism have made in this country,” he said.

“Unfortunately, new coronavirus regulations forced us to cancel our event. We would like to hold seminars, radio interviews, workshops and more television interviews.

“We will also partner with other organisations and advocate for the rights of people living with albinism.”

Royal Secrets is a network marketing company that manufactures cosmetics and fragrances and distributes its products across Southern Africa through independent sales agents.

The company’s products range from perfumes, roll-on, body lotion, face masks, to sugar scrubs, tissue oil, face serum, anti-blemish cream and anti-ageing cream.