Name: Taahira Goolam Hoosen
Role/Occupation: Lecturer & Humanitarian (MSc (Med); PGCE)
Country: South Africa
I recently had the privilege of interviewing Taahira Goolam Hoosen, a lecturer and a humanitarian. Hoosen has two major passions, education coupled with empowerment and curiosity of the human body. With degrees in the areas of biology, human genetics and haematology, she works as a lecturer in the Department of Health Sciences Education at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, at the Writing Lab where she provides academic development support to both students and staff. What excites her most about her job is that she is, “empowering them [students and staff] with a practice that goes beyond the university. Literacy is something that they can use in their professional space.”
Hoosen is also the CEO of the Humanitarians, an organisation which undertakes projects that aim to empower South Africans. In 2017, they undertook the Sustainable Book Project, led by Hoosen which distributed 20 000 books across the country to increase literacy levels. She believes that, “Science will unlock our potential as a continent but it cannot be done alone… we need to empower and lift our budding scientists and keep mentoring them so that they can access opportunities and go beyond.”
She is passionate about women in STEM and believes that women should pass on whatever they learn to elevate the status of the women in the STEM space in Africa, “Our skill set is unique and can be applied in any sphere so always ensure that you keep progressing and build your skill set.”
Read on (as I am sure Hoosen, a literary enthusiast, would personally advise) and be inspired by this enterprising and determined young woman.
Taahira Goolam Hoosen was interviewed by Dhruti Dheda, the founder of the African Steminist on behalf of Geeky Girl Reality. The full interview can be found here.
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