Pienaar social worker wants to bring change for children
Zanele Mathebula said the focus is on rural communities, because most people there cannot afford therapeutic services.
As a way to reach out to children who are battling with loss and grief, Therapeutic Services by Zanele Mathebula has started an initiative to aid with relief in local villages and townships.
This 30-year-old social worker said she decided to do the outreach after she realised that a number of people are unaware about the challenges children face on a daily basis.
According to her, most children harbour a lot of emotions and some anger or resentment. Her plan is to help them release those emotions and share a space in which they realise they can still be children and not have to take on parent’s roles.
She said the focus is on rural communities, because not everyone has money to see a psychologist or go for therapy. “I wanted to bring these services to children so they can be educated and informed, and create awareness on the importance of taking care of your emotional and mental well-being.
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“Children’s emotions are often sidelined unless they are troublesome. I wanted to help the youngsters and adults understand that children also grieve when they have lost a loved one. Adults should start taking into consideration children’s feelings and emotions. I noticed that due to the high death rate during the pandemic, most children had lost family members, be it parents, extended family members or community members. They were also confronted with death and often do not know whom to speak to or how to process everything.”
She said she decided to start in Pienaar primarily because she grew up there and wanted to start in her own community.
“I was inspired by my own life story. As a child, I experienced a number of emotional challenges, and now, working as a school social worker, I realised there are youngsters out there who need somebody to speak to or somebody to listen to them. That is why I decided children from our communities also need such interventions.”
For the past seven years, she has dedicated her time to bring change in her community and surrounding areas.
She studied social work at the North West University and has an honours in psychology from Unisa. She said the experience she acquired while working has moulded her into the person she is today.
“I worked at SANCA Lowveld for four years. I was a social worker at Barberton Primary School for two years. This year I joined Nelspruit Primary School.”
She said she is planning another event for children whose parents are divorced and separated. “I recently held an event at Rapha Christian Centre International Church. I would like to thank everyone who assisted me when I planned the event, the donations I received and the free venue provided.”
Those interested may contact Mathebula on 079 287 3865 or email her at zanelemathe08@gmail.com.
