Meet the Founder of WeSanctuary
“I Am African & I Can” is a women’s empowerment blog highlighting stories of black women’s struggles and successes.
By Hadiatou Wann | 12/27/19
Fatoumata Kaba (Tima), a Guinean-native, moved to the United States in 2010, at the age of 13. She did her undergrad at Denison University, studying French and Chemistry with a pre-medical track. She received a fellowship and had the opportunity to do research and intern abroad.
“In Summer 2017, I conducted a research project on the physiological impact of female genital cutting which enabled me to travel to Senegal to work with TOSTAN—a nonprofit organization working with women in Senegal among other West African countries. I conducted interviews with women working with TOSTAN about the impact of female genital cutting, “ Tima said.
In the Spring semester of her junior year, she studied abroad in Botswana and was a part of the community public health program at the University of Botswana, and interned at clinics in the capital of Botswana (Gaborone) and a small village in Botswana called Kanye.
In 2016, Tima’s father was supposed to get an eye surgery. When he went for his physical checkup, he failed the physical assessment of his checkup. They found out that his vessels were not pumping properly—which formed a clog in his heart. Doctors told her father that If he didn’t get heart surgery, he would later have a stroke.
Concerned about the well-being of her father, Tima considered dropping out of school to help take care of him. But he advised her to continue her studies so she could one day make a difference in finding cure for heart diseases.
Fast forward to today, she is a clinical research coordinator at Ohio Health Riverside Campus. The same hospital where her father underwent a heart surgery. Seeing her father being properly cared for at that hospital was what inspired her to apply for a position.
At first, they didn’t get back to her. But she followed up and reconnected with a schoolmate who worked there. When they finally took a glance at her resume, she qualified. Tima says that being persistent and having connections can facilitate the hiring process.
On the day of her second interview she got into an accident. Her car was wrecked, but she still showed up to the interview.
When Tima arrived at her new job, she was surprised that her colleagues were black. She was used to being the only black person in her field. For a change, it felt refreshing to be surrounded by intelligent people that looked like her. Her colleagues were very welcoming and taught her what she needed to know to familiarize with her new job.
This year, she launched WeSanctuary, a platform where women can share their stories and be uplifted by a nonjudgmental community.
Sabrina Kiamilev, Tima’s close friend from a semester of studying abroad in Botswana said: “My favorite thing about Tima is her ability to constantly uplift everyone around her. She is a force of positive energy and empowerment like no other! You can see this just in hanging out with her for five minutes or even online in her work to empower women worldwide with WeSanctuary.”
With a heart that is concerned about the well-being of others, Tima’s career path shows that if we want change in the world, we can step in and assist in making a change. After gaining some experience in her field, she intends to obtain a Masters in Public Health.
Welcome to Tima’s World
“A strong woman is somebody who can see beyond her shortcomings, and doesn’t let her circumstances deprive her of where she’s going. She occupies a space regardless of who feels uncomfortable or threatened by her presence.”
“A queen is somebody who embodies who they are in every aspect of their life. ”
Tima works out and runs 7 days a week
“I always try to rationalize when things don’t work out. When God removes certain things or people in my life, I know it’s a sign.”
“Success can’t be measured by the amount of money you make. ”
Connect with Tima:
Facebook: Tima Kaba
Instagram: @vientimz
Email: kaba_t1@denison.edu
Website: https://www.wesanctuary.com/
Read other success stories here: www.iamafricanandican.info/blog
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