Sustainably ever after: Teenage entrepreneur inspires social change

Pictured above: Lilah McDonald.

It’s been over three years since then 10-year-old Lilah McDonald first embarked on her mission to make a difference through her social enterprise, Water Us. Since our initial coverage of her inspiring journey in 2021, a lot has transpired for this young entrepreneur who continues to carve her path towards sustainability, including the launch of a new business podcast.

Lilah McDonald, now 14, but just as driven, describes herself as someone deeply connected to nature, animals, and the ocean. “I love nature and the ocean and animals,” she shares. “I have a cat who I love and who always makes me happy. My favourite thing to do is create things, I love painting, drawing and sewing. I care a lot about people, animals and the world.“

Lilah’s social entrepreneurship journey was sparked by a simple yet profound desire to protect sea life and contribute positively to the environment. “I know that one person cannot right all the world’s problems, but I hope to make the biggest difference possible in my lifetime,” she explains.

The push she needed to turn this spark into action was a trip to Europe with her family during which she was surprised by the sheer amount of public drinking fountains throughout the cities they visited. Upon her return Lilah was shocked to discover that Auckland only had drinking fountains in five percent of its parks. She resolved to do something to change this and Water Us was born.

“If people have easy access to water fountains and refill stations, it will encourage them to avoid buying single-use plastic bottles which end up in our oceans and landfill,” she told NZBusiness back in 2021.

The social enterprise would go on to sell consumable, regularly used products such as environmentally friendly toilet paper, with at least 50 percent of its profits going to The Public Water Project, a charitable foundation being established to fund the purchase of accessible drinking fountains and bottle refill stations, which will be gifted to local boards and councils for installation in community parks and other high traffic locations.

According to the local board, the first of these installations will go ahead in the coming months.

Reflecting on the inception of Water Us, Lilah recalls the initial challenges and triumphs. “The first year after launching Water Us was a lot of work,” she admits. “We were trying to figure everything out. I had obviously never done anything like this before, but with a lot of help from my mum, we managed to launch on PledgeMe and fund the first container [of toilet paper supplied out of China].” The support from the community was overwhelming and motivating for Lilah. “It went really well, and all the support I received was amazing,” she recalls.

However, running a business at a young age presented its own set of challenges. “We were lucky enough to use a warehouse for free, thanks to Life Stream,” Lilah mentions. “But they were downsizing, so after the second container, we had to look for somewhere new, and the shipping costs were still insanely high.” These logistical hurdles forced Lilah to temporarily pause Water Us when her family went travelling in 2023. “We decided to put Water Us on hold,” she explains. “At the moment, we are working to relaunch later this year.”

Despite the setbacks, Lilah remains optimistic and resilient. “Whenever I found something difficult or forgot why I was doing this, I always made sure to find my passion again,” she asserts. “If you don’t have passion, you won’t be able to connect with people, push your cause, or be successful. People buy your passion just as much as your product.”

While Water Us remains close to her heart, Lilah also nurtures a passion for art and sustainable fashion. “I have always thought I would end up with an arty job,” she reveals. “That’s always been my passion, and at the moment, I am particularly interested in sustainable fashion. I love designing and creating.” Her interest in sustainable fashion stems from a desire to address the environmental impact of the fashion industry. “The fashion industry is one of the most unsustainable in the world,” Lilah points out. “I want to help change that. Water Us is only the beginning.”

Looking ahead, Lilah envisions a future where she combines her creative pursuits with her commitment to sustainability. “My goal is to be working in fashion,” she affirms. “I definitely also see myself with lots of side projects as well. There are many problems that I am passionate about, so I want to change as many as possible.”

Lilah firmly believes in the power of individuals to drive social change. “I really believe it’s important for everyone to be an advocate for social change,” she emphasises. “There’s nothing special about me, except for the fact that I acted. Everyone has things that they are passionate about and everyone has the ability to change the world and our society. They just need to start doing it.”

Her commitment to advocacy extends beyond her own ventures. “For me, the most inspiring people are the people who built an idea into a business,” Lilah explains. “Whenever I read a story about someone who had nothing but their ideas and determination, worked hard, and accomplished their dream, it truly motivates me to work harder.”

Lilah’s journey from a young girl with a vision to a determined entrepreneur offers valuable lessons for aspiring young minds. “If you are passionate about a cause and want to do something, then do it,” she advises. “The world isn’t going to change itself, so why shouldn’t you be the one to do it? I started Water Us when I was 10 because I saw a potential solution to a problem I feel very passionate about. I thought ‘no one else is doing it, so I will’. As simple as that.”

In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavours, Lilah is excited to be hosting a band new business podcast on sustainability, produced by NZBusiness magazine. “Being able to talk about sustainability with a wider audience is amazing,” she expresses. “Most of all, I am excited to be talking with such amazing people who have already done extremely inspiring things in sustainability. I look forward to learning a lot.”

As Lilah continues to grow and evolve, so too does Water Us. Her unwavering passion, coupled with a budding interest in sustainable fashion and a commitment to advocacy, sets a remarkable example for young (and old) entrepreneurs everywhere. With her determination and vision, Lilah is poised to make a lasting impact on both the environment and the business world.

Sustainably Ever After

Lilah’s journey from a tenacious young founder to a budding advocate for sustainable practices not only inspires but also challenges us to consider our own roles in driving positive change in the world. As she continues to navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship, Lilah’s story is one of determination and inspiration for the next generation of change-makers.

Lilah continues this journey through a new podcast on NZBusiness called ‘Sustainably Ever After’, launching in September 2024.

Join Lilah when she’ll be in conversation with other social entrepreneurs and business leaders who strive to be more sustainable, making our planet liveable for future generations. Every two weeks Lilah will chat to social entrepreneurs who have created businesses out of a desire to see ESG change, established business leaders who are on a journey to make their business more sustainable, and organisation leads advocating for change. 

Look out for more details coming soon…