North-West University (NWU) alumnus Lebohang Raputsoe recently hosted a virtual leadership development workshop through her non-profit organisation, The ABC Community. This initiative aimed to inspire and connect young people, with a particular focus on empowering young women to think and act sustainably.
Lebohang says the workshop provided a platform to explore sustainability from various perspectives such as individual, household, community, national and global levels. It also encouraged networking and collaboration among attendees to ideate and implement sustainable community development projects.
Participants were divided into four focus groups, namely entrepreneurship, youth unemployment, learning and development, and philanthropy, each addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2030. This structure fostered meaningful discussions and heightened engagement by aligning attendees with topics about which they were passionate.
“The workshop highlighted the interconnectedness of sustainability and leadership, empowering attendees to lead with purpose and align their projects with long-term success that benefits people and the planet,” Lebohang explains.
Insights and future directions
Lebohang acknowledged the challenges faced during the workshop, including difficulty in finding interested participants and accommodating diverse schedules. Despite these hurdles, dividing attendees into focused subgroups proved effective, creating a space for ideas to flow and ensuring active participation.
Looking ahead, Lebohang envisions enhancing future workshops by incorporating actionable tools and measurable strategies and fostering partnerships with corporate sponsors to support sustainable initiatives. She also proposed creating mentorship opportunities where alumni serve as speakers and guides, sharing their experiences and holding participants accountable for their goals.
This workshop marks the beginning of a larger movement, setting a strong foundation for sustainable leadership and community development.
Lebohang Raputsoe.
