LIYABONA YENGENI
Cape Town / Johannesburg
Summary
Dedicated student leader with 3+ years of experience in building inclusive communities and coaching peers. Managed teams and coordinated cross-institutional initiatives to enhance the academic growth of mentees. Leverages a background in Human Anatomy & Physiology alongside strong communication, crisis management, and governance skills.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Deputy Chairperson
UCT FLOURISH Mentorship Programme
Cape Town
01.2026 - Current
- Lead accountability structures for 30+ residence head mentors, ensuring term-by-term programme goals are met.
- Managed crisis situations decisively, mitigating reputational risk while maintaining programme continuity.
- Streamlined board communication by redesigning meeting agendas and reporting channels, improving transparency across the programme.
- Developed inter-residential partnerships with various residence management teams and leadership organisations to strengthen advocacy efforts.
Deputy Chairperson
UCT Secretariat Subcouncil – Residence Life
Cape Town
11.2025 - Current
- Drove strategic initiatives to increase student participation in residence life across UCT's campuses.
- Reviewed and adjusted subcouncil budgets with executive team quarterly to maintain financial stability and align spending with student priorities.
- Implemented governance best practices that enhanced board effectiveness and accountability.
- Mentored executive team members on decision-making, communication, and organisational leadership.
Deputy Head Student
Varietas Residence – UCT
Cape Town
10.2025 - Current
- Fostered a positive residential climate by proactively addressing behavioural concerns and enforcing fair discipline policies with the help of Warden and Subwardens.
- Coordinated extracurricular events and community-building activities to enrich student life outside the classroom.
- Allocated residence budgets to fund educational initiatives and communal programmes, promoting a shared sense of identity.
Head Mentor
Varietas Residence – UCT
Cape Town
10.2025 - Current
- Implemented a check-in system for mentors and mentees that ensured consistent, personalised support throughout the academic year.
- Organised and chaired regular meetings with a team of lead mentors, building cohesion and aligning on support goals.
- Facilitated cross-industry networking connections between programme participants, expanding career exposure for all mentees and mentors.
Tutor (Remote)
Thato Nombewu
East London
11.2025 - 12.2025
- Delivered one-on-one tutoring sessions for life sciences, physical sciences and mathematics to pre-matriculants and matriculants, enhancing study skills and exam strategies to boost student confidence and academic performance.
- Collaborated with learners to address problem areas and homework gaps, facilitating targeted skill improvement and bridging knowledge gaps for students lacking access to technology that supports their learning.
- Tutored students in one-to-one and small group sessions to progress learning.
- Analysed student progress and prepared feedback to improve test results.
Founder & Captain, Debate Club
Isolomzi Senior Secondary School
East London
02.2022 - 11.2024
- Founded and grew the school's first debate club from zero to an active programme running for over 2 years.
- The programme is a youth initiative redirecting students away from substance abuse and violence through structured engagement with topics in world politics, social issues, and critical thinking.
- Developed the club's mission, vision, and operational framework; nurtured members' public speaking confidence and teamwork. Ensuring that students' overall talents are captured and expressed and not just focused at academics.
Education
BSc - Human Anatomy, Physiology & Biochemistry
University of Cape Town
Cape Town03-2029
Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Budget Management
- Team Leadership
- Crisis Management
- Activity Planning
- Peer Mentorship
- Peer Mentorship
- Student Counselling
- Feedback & Coaching
- Motivation Techniques
- Public Speaking
Languages
English
First Language
Xhosa
Advanced
C1
Timeline
Deputy Chairperson
UCT FLOURISH Mentorship Programme
01.2026 - Current
Deputy Chairperson
UCT Secretariat Subcouncil – Residence Life
11.2025 - Current
Tutor (Remote)
Thato Nombewu
11.2025 - 12.2025
Deputy Head Student
Varietas Residence – UCT
10.2025 - Current
Head Mentor
Varietas Residence – UCT
10.2025 - Current
Founder & Captain, Debate Club
Isolomzi Senior Secondary School
02.2022 - 11.2024
BSc - Human Anatomy, Physiology & Biochemistry
University of Cape Town