Lillian Maboya

Joined ALA in 2009

My name is Lillian Maboya and I am from Polokwane, South Africa. Before coming to ALA, I positively influenced my community - Romeng Village, where I did my high schooling, by changing the method of planting from one whose primary focus was to provide food for the dining hall and flowers to decorate the chapel, into a more sustainable one, permaculture.

In my first year at the African Leadership Academy, I joined a community service project called Grow Green Itsuseng, which works with a nearby informal settlement to develop sustainable agricultural projects that address poverty. At the time, the complexities that come with working with people from varying backgrounds were lost on me. It was only when I took leadership of the project that I realised how challenging it is to work with people from different countries with different backgrounds. Through this experience, I have learnt to tolerate differences and embrace them at all times.

During my leadership journey at the academy, I received three awards that made me realise that my leadership style is taking a turn into a better direction. I was the best entrepreneurship student of the year 2010/2011, and also received the Leadership Award during the third term of my first year.  The most recent award I received was the  Africa Award, an award given to the student who, through their actions and words demonstrates a passion for Africa.

I have plans to study Environmental Engineering or Sustainability science. It is my hope that my academic courses will reinforce my ideas that it is through being environmentally conscious and designing localised green technology that we can truly drive Africa towards a greener future.

Currently: 

Preparing to attend university

In the Media

Lilian's involvement at COP17 in Durban, November 2011 was mentioned here, here and here