Tutela social worker shares 18 years of experience
This Brenthurst resident shares the highs and lows of working with the community.
Fikile Maseko (49) from Brenthurst has been a social worker for 18 years at Tutela Family Care in Brakpan. She has worked with clients, provided counselling, presented awareness programmes, and did community and statutory work.
“We go to schools for Child Protection Week and conduct bullying talks. We create awareness about issues we’ve identified as a challenge, and we step in in cases of abuse and neglect,” she explained.
For Fikile, a big joy in her job is seeing the progress of a client that she’s been working with for a while.
“When they get to me they’ve lost hope and don’t know where to go. When you see them rise out of their troubles then it’s fulfilling. It is good to see my impact on a client’s life bringing positive results,” she said.
The worst part of her job is putting in the work to help someone, but not seeing progress.
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“You try your best but some people don’t want to get better, especially parents who are addicts. You work with them to reunify their children with their parents, but they won’t stop using. It’s difficult to see children raised in such circumstances,” she continued.
Fikile has wanted to be involved in the community, helping people, since high school.
“I felt like I wanted to have an impact in the community. There are a lot of social ills I grew up witnessing, including substance abuse, domestic violence and child abuse. I wanted to contribute to the community,” she said.
Fikile grew up in Pretoria and went to school there. She is the oldest of seven siblings and has two sisters and four brothers. She says that being the firstborn is difficult, as a lot of attention goes to the younger children.
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She studied social work at Unisa, doing an honours degree as well, and wishes to study even more.
“I’m researching short courses,” she said.
Her son, Sipho Maseko (21), is starting his studies at the Northwest University’s Potchefstroom campus. Fikile has received a 10-year service award, and she describes her work environment as a good one.
Fikile describes herself as calm, friendly and with a big love for people.
“Most people see me as an introvert, but when it comes to work I work. I want things done right and don’t like things done halfway. I’m very strict when it comes to what I believe in, and I like to fight for what’s right,” she said.
