Ladies spend over 20 years serving at the Child Welfare
They love their jobs and agreed they were meant to work for the organisation.
Ethel Mazibuko and Elsie Mpinga have worked for the Greater Benoni Child Welfare (GBCW) for over 20 years.
They love their jobs and agreed they were meant to work for the organisation.
Ethel started at the organisation 28 years ago as a social auxiliary worker.
“After I completed my schooling, I came straight to the GBCW to start my career and after so many years, I can confidently say this is my home.”
A social auxiliary worker assists the social worker by providing support services and working under the supervision of social workers.
Social auxiliary work complements and supports social work in all focus areas with services to individuals, families, groups and communities.
She emphasised that her job has opened her eyes and taught her to be emotionally strong to deal with any challenge that may come her way.
“One of the biggest challenges I face is dealing with children who are sexually abused, especially when it is done by a family member.
“As well as watching children who abuse substances, smoking drugs and get sick to the point they cannot even wash themselves.”
All these experiences have been traumatic for her, but she added her love for children and her strong belief that this is her calling is what has kept her coming back to work and doing the best she can to help the children.
When she is not at work, she enjoys going to church and visiting her family.
The Daveyton resident is most proud of her daughter, who is studying psychology.
Elsie joined the organisation 25 years ago as a general worker and worked her way up to the admin department.
The work environment and the respectful staff is what have kept her going for all these years.
She highlighted that working at the front desk she had seen a lot of children who have been brought into the organisation that have been abandoned or abused.
A little girl at one time stole her heart and encouraged her to be a foster parent.
“I took her in during the December holidays because nobody fostered her for the holiday period and as she stayed with us, we bonded and when it was time for her to come back she did not want to leave.
“After that I enquired on how I could foster her and three years later, she is still with us.”
The mother of two girls said in her spare time she helps the Mashaba Dance Group in Daveyton.
“Working here has made me a stronger person, but I also believe prayer in the morning is what has kept us safe and allowed us to come to work safely.”
She added that throughout the years the circumstances at the organisation has improved.
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