SEEING CHILDREN GROW INTO RESPONSIBLE ADULTS WARMS MY HEART,” SAYS CHILD AND YOUTH CARE WORKER

By Phetoho Maja

• Child and Youth Care Workers (CYCWs) play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable children and youth, with professionals like Thabang Lehoko helping reunite children with families and guiding them toward responsible adulthood.
• Thabang Lehoko’s journey into child and youth care began in 2001 through church involvement, and he now brings over 20 years of experience to his role in the Department of Social Development.
• Lehoko calls for greater recognition and academic advancement in the field of child and youth care, highlighting the need to reduce institutional barriers and elevate the profession’s role in society.

In recognition of International Child and Youth Care Workers Week, observed from 6 to 12 May, the Gauteng Department of Social Development pays tribute to the commitment and influence of Child and Youth Care Workers (CYCWs) within its institutions. These professionals work diligently to provide care and protection to society’s most vulnerable children.

CYCWs play a vital role in nurturing the development and well-being of children and youth across communities. One such committed professional is Thabang Lehoko, a Child and Youth Care Worker at Mabutho Hlatshwayo CYCC in Heidelberg, located in the Southern Corridor.

Lehoko says his greatest reward is witnessing children in care grow into responsible, self-sufficient adults. He says one of the most fulfilling moments of his career is when he successfully reunites children with their long-lost families.

“I fell in love with the profession in 2001 when the Anglican Church sent me to work with vulnerable children, and I decided to stay and become a full-time Care Worker,” he shared.

Originally from Ratanda, the 49-year-old is a proud father of two daughters. For Lehoko, child and youth care work is not just a job—it’s a calling. He has served the Department for five years, bringing over two decades of experience from previous roles at Bosasa Youth Development Centre in Krugersdorp (16 years) and St Mary’s Children’s Home (4 years).

As the profession gains recognition this week, Lehoko urges greater awareness and appreciation for child and youth care work, which he feels is often misunderstood or under-acknowledged.

“Let us use this moment to appreciate and recognise Child and Youth Care Workers in our society. More must be done to advance the field academically. Institutional bottlenecks should not restrict our life-space interventions and child advocacy work,” he said.

His message underscores that in addition to offering daily care and structure, Child and Youth Care Workers (CYCWs) are pivotal agents of hope, healing, and enduring transformation for the children under their care.