Red is the Colour of the Season

Red signifies warmth, courage, and love — and this season, thanks to Our Infinite Family, it's also the color of hooded sweaters and hope for our Net Buddies.

We are overjoyed to share that the hooded sweaters so many of you generously provided have arrived, each one carrying a motivational message on the back to remind our Net Buddies that they are Resilient, Resourceful, and Responsible. Beyond the comfort of soft, warm fabric on a cold day, you have given a daily reminder that someone out there believes in them.

One of our Net Buddies wanted to share their gratitude directly with you:

"As I wrapped myself in the soft, red hooded sweater you gave me, I felt a warmth that went far beyond the fabric. It was the warmth of knowing someone as kind and thoughtful as you was thinking of me — a reminder that I'm seen, loved, and appreciated, and a symbol of the brightness and joy you bring to my life.

Words like these are the truest measure of your impact. Because of you, a simple sweater becomes a symbol of care, and a cold day becomes a little brighter.

On behalf of all of our Net Buddies, thank you for your generosity, your compassion, and your unwavering commitment to uplifting teens. You are, quite literally, rays of sunshine in our teens’ world.

From LaunchPad to Workshop Floor

Nthatuoa's connection to Infinite Family began years ago, back when she was still a learner at Mehlwana Secondary School in Mpumalanga.  She did not know it then, but the mentorship she found inside her high school’s LaunchPad would go on to shape the course of her career.

After completing Matric in 2021, Nthatuoa left home and relocated to the Free State to live with her aunt’s family. She made the move to build a better future for herself and enrolled at Northern Cape Rural TVET College to study for an Electrical Artisan (Technician) qualification (completing N1 - N6, which is similar to an American Associate's Degree).

The road was far from smooth and challenges outside the classroom – like ensuring the family’s basic food and other needs were met – meant that she had to repeat several modules. There were many moments when Nthatuoa felt discouraged, but she pushed through, tutoring primary school learners and selling ice pops to make money to help support the family.

Nthatuoa's resilience was put to the test when the family lost everything in a house fire... Read What Happened Next

One Stop, Every Week: Thulani's Journey to the LaunchPad

Once a week, 19-year-old Thulani comes home from school in Khayelitsha, changes out of his uniform, eats, and heads straight for the train station. No one reminds him. No one has to. It's simply what he does — and has done, without fail, for four years.

Thulani is a Net Buddy at our Khayelitsha site, and every session with his mentor, Raphael, begins with the same short but meaningful journey: one stop by train to the LaunchPad. It sounds simple. But for a teenager balancing school, family, and everything else that comes with growing up, choosing to make that trip — session after session, year after year — is its own quiet act of determination. 

It hasn't always been an easy ride...Read What Keeps Thulani on Track

Net Buddies, Video Mentors, and Donors are the heart of our Infinite Family

Click here to see the Infinite Family Anniversaries we celebrate in August.

Thank you for being our Infinite Family

"I want to get better at what I do. I want to look back one day and know the fighting was worth it. I want my story to remind someone that where you start isn't where you have to finish.” ~Net Blazer Nthatuoa

*Photos and quotes are all real Infinite Family Net Buddies. For their safety, we change the names and images to protect their identities.