By Sindisiwe Tshona
Glyneise Arries, the dedicated Child Protection Officer at Saint Mary’s Development and Care Centre (DCC), is a woman on a mission to protect, empower, and inspire the children in her community.
With a deep passion for child welfare, Glyneise spends her days ensuring that young lives are safeguarded, parents are equipped with essential skills, and vulnerable children are given a voice.
One of her key initiatives is the Protective Behaviours Programme, which teaches children crucial safety skills – like knowing their parents’ full names, phone numbers, and even their transport details. “Many kids call their driver’ Tata because they don’t know the driver’s real name,” she explains. “If they get lost, that information could save them.”
She also manages a Bullying Box, where children can anonymously report incidents, allowing her to step in with psychosocial support. When cases fall outside her scope, she collaborates with organisations like Child Welfare and institutions like Rhodes University to ensure no child slips through the cracks.
Glyneise’s journey into child protection began with her studies in social work, though she left just shy of completing her degree. Yet, her passion never wavered. “Protecting children has always been my calling,” she says. “I want them to grow up in safe, happy environments.”
Her work has shaped not only the lives of the children she serves but also those of her own. As a mother to a 17-year-old daughter, she admits that her parenting skills were honed through her role. “I don’t stand in front of parents as an expert – I learn from them too,” she says.
The impact of Glyneise’s work is evident in the success stories of the children she has supported. One boy, who lost both parents at a young age, is now an armed response officer. Another former learner is excelling in metallurgy at a top institution. “If I can change just one child’s life, that’s enough for me,” she says.
Glyneise dreams of a community where child protection is everyone’s responsibility, from health workers to the police to universities. “Our children are the most vulnerable,” she stresses. “They need to know they have a future beyond the struggles they see.”
Her advice to young changemakers? “Follow your dreams. Anything is possible.”
Though she admits she often neglects self-care in her drive to help others, Glyneise remains fueled by faith and her support network. She hopes to be remembered as “a driver of change, someone who made a difference in the lives of children”.
And in Makhanda, that legacy is already being written – one child at a time.
