Liliana Margarella

Liliana first joined WAES in 2019, starting with distance learning courses on a range of mental and physical health topics. These flexible courses suited her well as a new mother and helped her begin her learning journey.

By autumn 2020, Liliana progressed to GCSEs in English and maths to broaden her opportunities. In 2022, she enrolled on the Level 2 Teaching Assistant programme, taking her first steps towards a career in education.

“In spring 2024, as part of the Level 3 Teaching Assistant course, I had the opportunity to participate in the Green Live Learning Lab, creating resources for the community to raise awareness about environmental sustainability. I also learned a great deal about the topic myself, using my functional skills maths knowledge to calculate how much energy is used when charging a phone battery, and I really enjoyed the ethical side. This was a great enrichment exercise which sparked my interest in green skills and, with the knowledge and understanding I had gained, I was able to enrol onto the Retrofit Bootcamp in the autumn.”

Liliana’s passion for sustainability grew through these experiences, supported by WAES’s commitment to practical learning.

“The teaching was a collective effort from WAES – they really worked hard to take us on visits to see green technologies in action and to network with organisations in the field along with Westminster City Council, providing good opportunities to put what we’d learnt in class into practice. I decided then that my goal was to become a teacher of green skills myself and to help promote sustainable practices in local communities. It is not just a subject of interest; it has become my driving force and a core part of my personal and professional goals.”

Building on this ambition, Liliana completed the Level 3 Award in Education and Training with WAES in 2025, gaining the skills to teach in adult education. Today, she is proud to be employed as a Green Skills Tutor at WAES, inspiring others to embrace sustainability and make a positive impact in their communities.