When our Net Buddy, Nkosinathi,* first joined Infinite Family in 2021 at age 13, she described the mentorship experience as “good,” though added with a chuckle that her mentor “was a bit strict.”
But by mid-2023, things began to unravel and her participation started to falter. Despite counselling so our team could understand the issues, she continued to miss sessions without explanation and dropped out.
While her parents were deeply concerned about her decision — fearing she’d end up in the streets — she decided to leave the program “to play rugby.” But a year later, something shifted. Nkosinathi realized that she’d missed Infinite Family, and being at the LaunchPad with her peers, and made the decision to return.
Matched with a new Video Mentor, she completed a period of probation and now has clear aspirations to pursue a career in digital marketing, then save money to start her own venture and create jobs for other young people.
Her gratitude to Infinite Family runs deep and she’s already planning how to give back after the support she received during her turbulent teen years, declaring that she will “donate 5 cattle to Infinite Family because we are a very big family.”
The transformation in Nkosinathi’s thinking comes, she believes, from having a mentor in her life. “ I don’t know what happens in our brains as teenagers, but once you have a mentor, your way of thinking changes for the better.” Today she values having someone who can provide “a safe space to open up about anything that’s happening,” because she knows the conversation will lead to solutions.
Recently, when Infinite Family hosted visitors at the site, Nkosinathi stepped up in an unexpected way. She volunteered to deliver a motivational speech about peer pressure and the importance of good decision-making for young people. She acknowledges that teenagers are capable of making bad decisions and can learn from them, just like she did when she left Infinite Family.
For her the LaunchPad represents more than just a meeting space — it is a source of positive energy. She describes her time there as very rewarding because she felt surrounded by good energy from her mentor, the Infinite Family team, and her peers.
From a 13-year-old who struggled with boundaries to a Grade 12 student planning her future and inspiring her peers, Nkosinathi ‘s journey embodies the resilience and potential that Infinite Family nurtures in every young person we serve.
*Photos and quotes are all real Infinite Family Net Buddies. For their safety, we change the names and images to protect their identities.
