Love and care are the best medicine
29/09/2008
Gregorious Yacob Mateus works with SOS youth. As an educator he not only helps young people find solutions to their problems but also motivates them to face challenges in life. He shares with us some insights into the work he performs.
Gregorius Mateus, aged 37, is a former SOS child. He joined SOS Children's Village Semarang in 1995 as an educator.
Why did you join SOS Children's Villages?
I did my major in Indonesian Literature. I was fond of writing so in the evenings I started writing for various newspapers. From the money I received I used to pay my living expenses. Before I took a permanent job I made a decision to help my brothers and sisters at SOS Children's Village Semarang since I was raised here and took the job of an educator in 1995.
How did you carry out your work in the beginning?
I worked long hours from morning until late night. I did not mind the weariness because I enjoyed my work. SOS Children is my home and I wanted to give my best. At that time my only concern was to help SOS youth. As a big brother to them I was lucky because they felt closer to me and so was I. This made it easier for me to communicate with them in particular when some of the youth were a bit difficult to handle. At the beginning of my job as "SOS educator" I had to face up to the mothers because they still regarded me as their little boy but slowly it turned out to be fine.
Do you find your work interesting?
I love children and want them to be successful. Youth are our country's future and only when they are doing well in their lives we can be sure that we have done a good job at SOS Children's Village. While working with them I try to find solutions to their problems and also encourage them to face difficulties and not just give up as life is grey.
Did you face any difficulties in your work?
There was a boy in the SOS Youth Facility for boys in Semarang who was very naughty, quite difficult to handle and plunged in various juvenile delinquencies. I tried patiently with him. In the beginning I spent a lot of time; often we went together for evening walks where I motivated him towards positive thinking.
Gradually I was able to arouse the boy's spirit and he gave up his wrongdoings. We finally managed to pull the problem through. One day he was up to mischief and did not come home until the next night. The boy began to tell me his experience, at the end he said "Bang (Brother) I was not planning to come home but because I knew that you love and care for me I returned home!" I was taken aback and touched by his words. The fact that we really cared for each other turned out to be the most effective medicine for him.
Does your experience of being a former SOS child help?
I can manage well with the experience I have, with an understanding that this experience was part of my life. I advise young boys to focus on their lives and to develop skills which will help them stand on their own feet. The boys share a wonderful rapport with me and can contact me anytime they want.
Relevant Countries: Indonesia.