Lillian Awunyoh

“Mema wo akwaaba” which means “You are welcome”

My parents each carrying a suitcase hopped onto a plane from the beautiful Gold Coast of Ghana and arrived in South Africa in search of a better life. 

In 1996, I was born in the small town of Margate which is on the lower South Coast of Kwa Zulu-Natal. Being born in a family that is from Ghana, I find a privilege that I get to be different from all those around me, enjoy the wonderful food and culture as well as the warmth of Ghanaian people. 

I grew up in a family where my parents were educated. My Father an accounting teacher and my Mother a typist and hairdresser. They both impressed the importance of education on us. Every Saturday, my father would take my younger brother and I to the local library where we would pick out books to read.

I attended Margate Primary School and later Port Shepstone High School. My favourite class was accounting and want to follow the footsteps of my father and become an Accountant.

I went to the University of the Free State and am now completing my Postgraduate Studies in Accounting. 

As a middle income household, my parents couldn’t afford the university fees and I relied on a bursary and had to maintain good academic results.

I have been through hardships and life is not as easy. I am determined not to let anything stand in my way to succeed.  

Having been, given the opportunity to be funded by a bursary, I see it as a chance for me to one day pay it forward. 

Being a part of IESHER is a great start for me to bring about the change that is needed in our communities. Through this opportunity I would be able to up-skill myself and one day use these skills to benefit the people in my community.