Korice AQ Nancis
Hello, my name is Korice AQ Nancis. I am the Founder & Managing Director of Fibroid Awareness Trinidad & Tobago.
I am a Communications Designer, a Women's Reproductive Health Advocate, a Social Entrepreneur, a Community and Tourism Development enthusiast, and my commitment to responsible development is unwavering.
In addition to my NGO, Fibroid Awareness T&T, I am also the Founder & Chief Content Creator of The Development Lab, a boutique consultancy service, co-founder of the Pink Diamond Society for Ladies Inc., a young women's personal and professional development organization and board member of the Canaan Nursery School, a family-owned and run early childhood institution. Most recently, I became a US Global Exchange Alum after successfully completing a stint in the United States as an International Fellow in the United States Government's Department of State Community Solutions Program.
My qualifications include an MSc in International Development from the University of Birmingham and a BA in Media & Communications from the University of the West Indies - Mona. I am also trained in Tourism Development & Management, Social Entrepreneurship and Community Leadership.
My hobbies include ballroom dancing, reading, makeup, braiding & natural hair styling and travel. Past awards include the 2018 Chief Secretary's Tobago Day Award, National Youth Awards, Young Woman of the Year, and academic and cultural awards during my tenure at the University of the West Indies.
Organization Name: Fibroid Awareness Trinidad & Tobago
Location: Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago
Operating since: 2018
Organization Website: www.ttconfidenceproject.org
Organization Instagram: @fibroidtt
Tell us all about your organization. What services do you provide?
Fibroid Awareness Trinidad & Tobago serves as a repository of information on fibroids and other issues of the uterus and also empowers women and girls by providing access to relevant information and advocacy.
Our core areas include:
Curating caravans, seminars and workshops to educate girls, women and the wider society on fibroids, other issues of the uterus and human reproductive health.
Providing or facilitating workshops, seminars, caravans and other programmes to impart knowledge on lifestyle changes and coping mechanisms to treat with fibroids, other issues of the uterus and also on wider reproductive health matters.
Advocacy at the local, national, regional and international levels for awareness and education on fibroids, other issues of the uterus and human reproductive health.
Ensuring that women and girls with fibroids and other issues of the uterus no longer suffer in silence by serving as a 'safe space' and equipping them with relevant information.
Building a strong support network for women, girls and families impacted by fibroids and other issues of the uterus.
How did you get the idea or concept for your organization? What was your mission at the outset? Was there anything in particular that inspired you to start at the time you did?
Initially conceptualized in 2008 as a Community Awareness Project to complete my BA in Media & Communications, Fibroid Awareness Campaign Tobago was born after a personal and harrowing experience that began two years earlier when I was diagnosed with fibroids having just moved to Jamaica at the age of 20 to pursue my first degree. This typically late diagnosis with a debilitating case of multiple fibroids and attendant side effects caused me to quickly realize that there was no access to a central place/organization for information, advice or support where I lived at the time (Jamaica) or even in my home country of Trinidad & Tobago. Further, my research also revealed that much of the global information was inconsistent, limited, and extremely fragmented. As such, I embarked on a journey of empowerment, awareness and hope.
In 2014, after an eight-year battle with fibroids and their subsequent removal via a myomectomy (open surgery), I sought to create a support network for women and girls impacted by fibroids. Immediately after the myomectomy, I began by sharing information and supporting women through the social media platform Facebook, which led to phone and video calls to support women, even pre and post surgeries. I eventually registered the foundation formally to address the issues I experienced as well as wider reproductive health awareness concerns... the work continues today.
Growing up, did you always intend to start your own company/organization?
I always wanted to chart my own destiny and while I dreamt of having my own organization as a girl, I never imagined that it would be an NGO.
How have your past personal & professional experiences helped you to run your organization?
My background in communications and my life as a volunteer in numerous local and international NGOs have equipped me to effectively manage and lead my organization. From proposal writing to budgeting, content development, networking, digital presence and more; the sum of my past personal and professional experiences have certainly been an asset in the life of Fibroid Awareness Trinidad & Tobago.
What is the biggest obstacle you've had to overcome?
The biggest obstacle I have had to face is actually my health. I can share that my fibroids were terrible and severely affected my overall quality of life. Even after their removal, I had to overcome long-lasting side effects to ensure the growth of my NGO and even my personal and professional development.
What's your definition of success? Do you consider yourself a success? If not, when will you?
I cannot simply put success into one sentence. Success is comprised of many facets and is directly related to one's station in life and the progress made, regardless of how minute that progress might be. I consider myself a successful work always in progress ;)
Have the women around you helped you to rise? How?
Yes, the women around me have helped me to rise. I come from a legacy of strong women who lead and their success and support have inspired and motivated me. The women in my circle of friends have also contributed time, resources and energy into all the work of my foundation.
What are some of your future plans? Are you working on anything else right now?
I am currently pursuing a Professional Certificate in Non-Profit Management with the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business and my future plans include the expansion of our support group and community outreach to more areas in Trinidad & Tobago as well as the launch of a Women's Health & Wellness Symposium.
What advice would you give to a woman starting out in your industry or starting her own company/organization?
NEVER DOUBT YOUR TALENT
Be realistic
Embrace failures and setbacks
Seek to always elevate your mindset through learning
Build a supportive and positive network who can constructively criticize
DO NOT PUT A LIMIT ON YOUR VISION
Describe yourself in ONE word. Purpose
Complete this sentence: "To be a girl or woman today is..." a gift!