Thabo Mahamo is an Environmental Educator Changing Great Feats in #Lesotho

Thabo Mahamo is a
God fearing woman, 27 year old single
mother of a two year old beautiful girl. I am a co-founder, General Secretary
and an Environmental Educator, Protector and Coordinator of a youth
organization named Makholela Environment and cultural Organization. My
interests are in climate change Activities, Sustainable development practice
and poverty alleviation.

WHAT
FUELS ME?

Humility: I believe in the
spirit of Humility. That’s what the world needs today. We are so concerned
about our individual desires we forget to show humility to those around us who
are in dear need.

Kindness: I find great
pleasure in being kind. I therefore show great gratitude to anyone who shows me
kindness because I know how rare it is these days. Also there’s something Godly about being
kind.

Nurture: Even before I became
a mother, I have always had the nurturing streak in me. Becoming a mother has
only emphasized my nurturing character. Growing up, I would always gather
children around my house to play with them, make sure they had eaten and
bathed. I was every child’s older sister and still am. My profession therefore
was not a mistake, protecting and preserving the environment is all about
nurturing.

MY GREATEST INFLUENCE:

My greatest
influence has to be my daughter. To know she’ll one day look up to me is my
greatest drive to do great in all I do.

MY TOP THREE
ROLE MODELS:

My Mother: I was raised by a strict, strong loving God fearing woman who
sacrificed so much for my education and wellbeing. Her upbringing has molded me
into the woman I am today. I can only hope to be just like her if not more as i
embark in the journey of being a phenomenal woman. I am only grateful to her,
for I know the sacrifices she has made for me and my siblings.

Wangari Maathai: her environmental work is absolutely my inspiration. Just like
her, I Co-founded MECO to work towards environment education and conservation
and contribute to sustainable development. I love her dedication and commitment
to environment work and women’s rights.

Michelle Obama: she does a lot of work but what inspires me most about her work
is the “let girls learn” initiative. I believe that educating a girl is
educating a nation and for that, Michell is my role model.

IN THE NEXT
FIVE YEARS…..

I see myself with a Master’s
degree that will help me grow as an Environmentalist and sustainable
development practitioner. I see MECO as a nationally recognized organization
doing great work towards sustainable development goals in communities in
Lesotho.

THE AFRICAN WOMAN’S
CHALLENGE:

The greatest challenge
the African Woman is faced with is poverty. So many factors contribute to
poverty: violence, lack of education, lack of environmental awareness,
marginalization, lack of resources, societal stereo types that have forced us
to be ignorant by not looking beyond what we have and what we can have and
achieve, etc; MECO is educating women and the youth about Environment topics
such as Climate change adaptation in order for the African woman to look beyond
the current situation and still make a living. We educate the youth about preservation
and conservation of the environment for the future generation.

WHAT I DO TO RELAX:

I listen to music or
watch movies and just like to be alone.

MY –
I.C.E. [INSPIRE|CELEBRATE|EMPOWER] VISION

To inspire, Celebrate and Empower an African
Woman is to show gratitude, value and worth. These are the things the African
woman needs to be celebrated for, for she is strong, courageous and an
achiever. She has felt pain, fear, and struggle she goes through daily for her
sons and daughters and the future generations are what have made her to be who
she is. Inspiring, Celebrating and
Empowering and African Woman, is simply giving her more purpose, more determination
for the change she wants for her nation.

MY AFRICAN UNION PLANS:

If given the privilege, i would be responsible
for girls, children and women fighting against poverty. I would see to women being engaged in
agricultural activities that will develop and empower her as a woman