At Infinite Family, we believe that the work we do is only as strong as the values that guide it. That’s why, in May 2025, we embarked on a meaningful journey, one that would take us six months, many conversations, and deep reflection as individuals, and as a team.
As part of our work with Empowering Change, we were challenged to define who we are, what we stand for, and what we can all hold each other accountable to. It may sound simple but it was anything but! Yet over six months, the Infinite Family team came together several times to think carefully about our values, not just as words on a wall, but as living commitments that each of us could relate to personally and collectively.
The result? A set of values that now hang not only in our offices in South Africa and the US, but in our LaunchPads, so that every teen we serve, and every parent and guardian who walks in, knows exactly what Infinite Family stands for. And they can hold us to it.
Our Infinite Family Values
DRIVE Teen Success
Every decision we make, every action we take advances lifelong gains made by teens.
CULTIVATE Transforming Connections
We build meaningful, global relationships between Net Buddies, their communities, Video Mentors, and our partners to amplify learning, rewarding exchanges and lasting impact.
LEARN, Innovate, Lead
Success is a moving target. We remain curious, adapt to evolving needs, and continuously refine our approach.
TACKLE the Tough
We model the resilience, resourcefulness, and responsibility we strive to inspire in teens.
GO FAR, Together
We are reliable, accountable, and transparent about challenges and successes.
To bring these values to life, we asked each team member to share the value that speaks most strongly to them and their answers reminded us of exactly why this process mattered:
Zoleka, Program Director (SA)
“All the values speak to me, but ‘Tackle the Tough’ came to life for me recently when Amy and I were stranded at Cape Town Airport during a fire and had to figure out, on the spot, where to stay and how to get back to Johannesburg for our packed schedules the next day. In that moment, I realised that our whole team has what it takes to tackle the tough and that we get to model that for our teens every single day. But equally close to my heart is ‘Driving Teen Success’. That is what gets me out of bed every morning and makes me ask: How can I contribute to a teen’s success today?”
Mpho, Technology Coordinator
“The value that speaks to me is ‘Learn, Innovate, Lead.’ I always look at it from the perspective of a teen who is part of Infinite Family going back to their family, teaching them what we do, what we stand for, and helping them understand the materials beyond what we create. That ripple effect is what it’s all about.”
Johannes, Operations Associate & Monyane, Mentoring Support Associate
“The value that strongly speaks to us is ‘Driving Teen Success’, because every decision we make, we make for the teens. We want to see every child succeed in every goal they set for themselves. That is what keeps us coming to work each day.”
Christina, Mentor Onboarding Coordinator
“My value is ‘Learn, Innovate, Lead.’ As someone who sees failure as data rather than a setback, I learn something new every day and that continuous learning leads to active problem-solving, which is innovation itself. And with that, I’m able to influence others positively.”
Puleng, Mentoring Support Coordinator
“I chose ‘Tackle the Tough.’ We meet teens who face enormous challenges daily, and some of them remind me of my younger self, all the obstacles I faced and how far I’ve come. Being able to walk alongside them as they tackle and overcome those challenges means everything to me.”
Mariam, Mentor Onboarding Coordinator
“For me, it’s ‘Driving Teen Success.’ It’s a powerful reminder of why we do this work. It captures the original purpose behind founding Infinite Family, that our teens are at the centre of every decision we make.”
Amy, Founder, President and CEO
“The value that drives me is ‘Driving Teen Success.’ Being inspired to create video mentoring when my husband I adopted our son from South Africa, I finally knew how all the pieces in my own very unusual career path fit together – this is my calling: Each one of our Net Buddies could be my son. Hearing from our Net Buddies and Video Mentors how they are changing each other’s lives and building futures that did not exist confirms we’re on the right track.