No One Promised a Smooth Road...But the Journey is Worth It

Every road has its bumps and turns, which is exactly why the Infinite Family program emphasises the need for our teens to develop resilience and resourcefulness.   As our newest high school graduates excitedly navigate their way from high school to college, we’re watching them grapple with the challenges of an overburdened national funding system (NSFAS). This means that - while their funding applications are still being processed, painfully slowly - several of our teens have been unable to take up their places in time for the first, valuable days of university. 

With the grit and determination our Net Buddies have demonstrated to get this far, we’re confident they’ll make up for the delay but, boy, it would be nice for them to get a straight, flat stretch of runway now and again!  

The harsh reality is that the lag in processing bursaries to cover their tuition, accommodation and other expenses happens every year.  So we’ve decided it’s time to build our own Education Fund to help cover the shortfall, while NSFAS plays catch up.  If you’d like to help make the road smoother for our teens in limbo this year and next year’s freshmen, please click here and select “Education Fund”.

It's not all an uphill struggle though.  Some Net Buddies have already moved in and started class, like doctor-in-training, Mbalentle K. above. He took the time to send us a selfie from his classroom at the University of Stellenbosch to let us know that he’s off to a terrific start!  

"Uni[versity] has been good! [Orientation] Week laid a good foundation for me to settle and adapt easily into this space. This campus is small and most people are doing the same course I am doing, Medicine. The studying environments are conducive [so] academics too are going well. We are able to help each other when it comes to our schoolwork. You never feel alone. I got to find people who match my energy, making whatever is hard bearable.”

It Takes a Global Village

We’re still dazed and delighted by the fantastic response to the recent Valentine’s fund-raising event organised by two fabulous friends of Infinite Family, Michelle Renecle and Naomi Schiff. Thanks to the energy, enthusiasm and all-round can-do attitude of this pair of South African expats based in London, they raised £10,050 / $12,670  / R228,000 to strengthen our teens this year.  Not only do they have our endless thanks but also our reassurance that it will all be used to support our teens with access to the computers, internet, mentors and other technological resources they need to meet their potential.  

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

Click here to see the Mentorship and Member Anniversaries we celebrate this February.

Thank you for being our Infinite Family

"Things are much simpler in high school. After matric you have to pull up your socks!"    ~Johannes S., Net Blazer