​Mpumelelo Khanyile, 38-year-ol, is a Child and Youth Care Supervisor at Mary Moodley Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC) in Ekurhuleni Region says his passion to serve the most vulnerable in society started at a tender age.
Khanyile, who is passionate about helping others and bringing the best in children holds a National Diploma in Child and Youth Development from Durban University of Technology (DUT) and is registered at a Professional Level with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP).
He joined Mary Moodley CYCC in 2020 as a supervisor after serving JW Luckhoff, based in Heidelberg, as a team leader.
Speaking to Weekly Bulletin, Khanyile said "My journey into Child and Youth Care was a funny one because initially I did not know anything about the profession. I refer to it as a calling, because when I applied at Durban University of Technology (DUT), Child and Youth Development was the only space available."
"I knew from that moment that this is what I wanted to pursue as I am someone who is passionate about helping others and bringing change in the lives of the vulnerable," he said.
Khanyile added that the greatest challenge he had to confront during his years of service dated back to when Child and Youth Care Workers were seen as glorified nannies. But gradually, there was light, were treated with dignity, and people now understand what it means to be a Child and Youth Care Worker.
One of his highlights in the practise was being able to reunite a child with his family after there was no trace when the boy was admitted at Mary Moodley CYCC.
Through the various programmes that we plan as Child and Youth Care Workers, an activity was planned where children were taken to a resort in the South of Joburg. A fellow staff member recognised the boy and immediately the family was contacted; and they confirmed that indeed this is their child."
He further encouraged fellow Child and Youth Care Workers that 'Rome was never built in one day'.