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Gloria Nompumelelo Luthuli

Location: S.A Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa

Biography
I grew up in the environment of a child care setting – my mother was a child and youth care worker at Emdeni Children’s home. I used to visit her at work and spend most of my time there. Social workers placed children in need of care with my mom, while they were still looking for placement. Sometimes they would stay for a very long time and we were used to having more children at our home.

In 1997 I applied at Golden Harvest as a Child and Youth Care Worker. By that time I only had my matric and a driver’s licence, no experience, no qualification – but I had commitment, love and passion for children. I worked at Golden Harvest as a house mother with fourteen children in my care, without any relief worker, for 3 years. We were struggling to get suitable relief workers and the place was forced to close down. It was a sad moment for me and the children. I then asked my mother to foster three of the children, which she did.

I was then transferred to Van Ryn Place of Safety and worked there as a Senior Child Care Worker. I was determined to grow in this field. I then studied further, to grow myself in the field.

In 1998 I studied Basic Qualification in Child Care
In 2003 I obtained my Diploma in Child and Youth Development with UNISA
In 2010 I obtained my B-Tech Degree in Child and youth Development with UNISA
I am currently registered for a Social Work Degree with UNISA

How I came to be in this field
I was a professional athlete at Gold Fields, when my mom called to say there was a post of child care in Social Development, I applied for the post and was shocked to be called in for an interview as I had no experience or qualifications. I was lucky to be selected and I then decided to equip myself with education and training as I have grown to love this profession.

A favorite saying

Life is a journey in which we are constantly growing, learning and transforming,

and that "before you find the one, you must first be the one."

A few thoughts about child and youth care
Nobody can call themselves a ‘child and youth care worker’ simply because they work with children and youth.

It is an art , because of the dramatic, the sense of timing, and the qualities of a worker will include being cultivated, disciplined, with intuition, enthusiasm (which I can call sophisticated ‘naiveté') All of this defines our work as craft. We do not work by appointment – we are always available.

We are the primary practitioners of this field.

We are unique; we are the ones on hand at times of joy, crisis, growth and setbacks. When children are in real need of care and love, we experience the real event of the child’s life and hence the term “Life space intervention”. We don’t deliver our services at prescribed times; we are always available.

My experience in CYC
As a child and youth care worker, you should read every day because our work needs more people with creative minds, who can think quickly. I am currently reading Call It Love or Call It Quits which is a guide to meaningful relationships by Tim Timmons & Charlie Hedge. If you read this book you will know about healthy and good relationships and more about the different characters and behaviours of the people around you.
We learn ...
How and when to make yourself vulnerable
What do you do when someone can’t make a commitment?
Why your relationship with God is important to your relationship with another person
When your expectations are realistic
How to break up
How to feel confident ...

Thoughts for those who are new to Child and Youth Care work
Successful people are the results of hard work, patience and progress

Be a role model to the children and youth you are working with

Each person must function properly and NOT perfectly as we are all unique human beings and we contribute our uniqueness to other people

There are three hurdles that are important in life and you won’t go wrong if you practice and jump them:
• The hurdle of Maturity
• The hurdle of Communication
• The hurdle of Purpose

A person may have discovered and defined their direction well, but there is a big different between the “talk” and the “Do”. Even if you are on the right track, you may still be run over if you just sit there.

Influences on my work
I am my own testimony. My growing up and my environment motivate me in my work and I believe that everything is possible – it's up to you. I also believe that to change your life you change your patterns. I read more of more motivational books; they keep me growing and help me to discover my Inner self each day.

We learn ...
How and when to make yourself vulnerable
What do you do when someone can’t make a commitment?
Why your relationship with God is important to your relationship with another person
When your expectations are realistic
How to break up
How to feel confident ...

Thoughts for those who are new to Child and Youth Care work
Successful people are the results of hard work, patience and progress
Be a role model to the children and youth you are working with
Each person must function properly and NOT perfectly as we are all unique human beings and we contribute our uniqueness to other people

There are three hurdles that are important in life and you won’t go wrong if you practice and jump them:
• The hurdle of Maturity
• The hurdle of Communication
• The hurdle of Purpose

Influences on my work:
I am my own testimony. My growing up and my environment motivate me in my work and I believe that everything is possible – it's up to you. I also believe that to change your life you change your patterns. I read more of more motivational books; they keep me growing and help me to discover my Inner self each day.