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Lesiba Molepo

Location: Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa

Biography
I was born and grew up in the rural area of Limpopo Province, South Africa. After completion of my matric (grade 12), I started working as an online child and youth care worker in 1986. I was mainly working with young people who lived and worked on the streets (boys only). Because I was 19 then, I was comfortable being amongst them and we did a lot of things together. When people talk about “doing with” in child and youth care, I think I can relate with the concept much better. I was subsequently promoted to the position of senior child and youth care worker. What I enjoyed most about this position was that I was not removed from direct practice and therefore was able to support, guide and supervise new child and youth care workers.

During my direct work with young persons, I enrolled myself at the University of South Africa, doing a BA on a part-time basis. At the same time, I was undergoing training for Basic Qualification in Child Care under the auspices of the National Association of Child and Youth Care Workers. It took me four years to complete this basic qualification and I remember the facilitator of this training went to complain to my manager that I did not to seem to take this qualification seriously. Her argument was how can I pass university modules and fail basic qualification modules? Perhaps she was right to complain but I think she was not aware of the workload that was on my shoulder. Besides, I was young and did not care much. I subsequently viewed her concern positively and ultimately completed this basic qualification. This is the qualification that kept me going in this field. It has laid a solid foundation for me as it was relevant and practical.

After completing my BA, I went to another university for a full-time Postgraduate Diploma in Education. My intention was to venture into the education sector at a later stage. But at that time, teaching posts were scarce and I opted to go back into child and youth care field where I worked as a senior child and youth care worker and subsequently the manager of a community child and youth care programme. It was in this programme that I realised the impact child and youth care workers could make in terms of reaching more vulnerable children and families. By the way, when I returned to child and youth care work after my post graduate studies, my former boss, Rev Barrie Lodge, promised to teach me so that by the time I left that organisation, I would be able to head an organisation. He made this statement after realising that the money the organisation could afford to pay me was not sufficient. This is what child and youth care leaders should do – mentor and create opportunities for upcoming child and youth care workers so that they can reach higher career levels. Indeed when I left his organisation, I was able to take up a position of programme manager of a children’s home in the city of Johannesburg. This position meant that I was responsible for about 50 children. What a responsibility! I often hear complaints and statements that child and youth care workers cannot occupy managerial positions. With proper training and other qualifications, child and youth care workers are able to do exceptionally well as managers of child and youth care programmes. In South Africa, we are beginning to see those child and youth care workers who have been on the ground progress up to management levels. This is actually a good step for the field.

I was also given an opportunity to train and tutor child and youth care modules on a part-time basis whilst still in the field. I think it was this exposure that prepared me to take up the position of a lecturer at the University of South Africa, where I am currently based. I am placed in the Department of Psychology and part of my responsibilities involves teaching Basic Psychology and Community Psychology. When teaching Community Psychology, I can confidently rely on the experience I acquired during my community child and youth care days. But what is also giving me the confidence to teach “other modules” is my newly acquired MTech qualification in Child and Youth Care. This qualification gives me the confidence to engage with colleagues from other disciplines at an academic level.

How I came to be in this field
As you might know, youngsters tend to think in a certain way, usually different from how adults think or view things. My parents could not afford to send me to tertiary institutions and therefore wanted to organise some kind of bursary from the local traditional offices for me to further my studies – I know they had teaching in mind and this is something I did not want. Would you say I was rebellious in a way? After completing my matric, I went to Gauteng, the economic hub of South Africa, with the hope of finding a good job. As I had obtained good marks in my matric, I thought finding a job was going to be much easier. It was only after 8 months of job hunting that I realised that my expectations were not realistic. A colleague of my uncle and her friends were running a shelter for children who have lived on the streets and they wanted someone who could go out to assist them paint the Zozo structure that was used to house these youngsters. My cousin and I went to assist and in the evening, we would interact with the youngsters teaching them drama and gumboots dance. Little did we realise that someone was watching. This is where I learnt that one should do “good” when no one seem to be watching. We were offered an opportunity to attend an interview for the child and youth care worker positions. I remember one of the questions asked in the interview was “how would you handle young people who have just had a fight to ensure that they continue to get along? I remember answering this question in detail, even using some examples. This is what I think child and youth care workers should be able to do. Given the practical nature of our work, examples and stories become a powerful tool to demonstrate our understanding, knowledge and skills.

A favorite saying
It makes me feel good to see some familiar faces after a long time – especially those who are still in the field of child and youth care. I met people like Thom Garfat in 1987 when I was attending my first National Association of Child and Youth Care Workers Biennial conference in Johannesburg. To meet them again in 2009 makes me realise that “once a child and youth care worker, always a child and youth care worker”. This is in fact a warning to those who thought they would join child and youth care field whilst trying to decide on a “serious” career path outside child and youth care field.

A few thoughts about child and youth care
Child and Youth Care Work has undergone a long walk towards professionalization, especially in South Africa. Some may have been discouraged along the way. But for those who remain in the field and continue to strive for its professionalization, I would say it is such a privilege to be part of this struggle. Child and Youth Care will obtain full professional status in South Africa, and other countries that are in similar situations.

Last thing I read, watched, heard, which I would recommend to others
I like to watch the South African award winning movie Tsotsi. This movie captures the impact of a broken Circle of Courage in a powerful way. It further demonstrates how a person can change as a result of the needs (belonging in this instance) having been met.

A favorite Child and Youth Care experience
If you read all my child and youth care writings, such as the one mentioned below, you will get an idea of my wonderful child and youth care experiences. Most of my writings contain real child and youth care stories.

A few thoughts for those starting out
For those who are in direct practice, do not lose the opportunity to share your experiences. Write down your real online experiences somewhere – good or bad and share them with others. Now with the availability of resources such as cyc-net, there is no excuse for not sharing. The last thing I can say to those starting out is keep on studying. This is good for your own professional growth, the field and most importantly for those you serve.

A recommended child and youth care reading
Of course there are many, but recently I read a book by Rosenfeld, A. and Wasserman, S. 1990. Healing the heart: A therapeutic approach to disturbed children in group care. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America.

Although this book was written some years ago, I think it keeps on reminding us about the type of children we work with. This book captures their historical backgrounds and therefore consciountises us about their level of pain.

My favourite child and youth care-relevant link and why
Cyc-net remains the valuable source for child and youth care workers in that it is international, current and covers a range of topics – all at once.

A writing of my own
My very first writing for the cyc-net in 2004. Discharged for the same reasons asadmission? https://www.cyc-net.org/cyc-online/cycol-0404-molepo.html

Although not perfect, this article gave me the confidence that I can also share my experiences with others.

Influences on my work
There are many people who have played a significant role in my career – the list is endless. In terms of practice, I think of Rev Barrie Lodge, Jacqui Michael and Larry Brendtro. In the academic area I think of Lesley du Toit, Brian Gannon, Thom Garfat, Leon Fulcher, Jim Anglin, Nick Smiar and Jackie Winfield. I cannot forget Merle Allsopp, Zeni Thumbadoo and Ashley Theron for the advocacy role they continue to play in our country. In my professional life I have had “the unique opportunity to ride on the shoulders of great giants” (Guptan, 2006).

Final comments
I think I have shared enough.