It May Be Cold Outside But It's Warm in Here 

In the same way that children can’t be expected to concentrate and perform well in class without adequate, nutritious food, it’s impossible for them to focus when they are cold. Counter-intuitive as it may sound, South African winters can be brutal and every year, we ask for donations to fund cozy hooded sweaters for all of our Net Buddies so they can study in comfort while they hunker down to prepare for their final exams.

Your sweaters are an extra special gift for our high school seniors. South African schoolkids all wear uniforms and, in many communities, it is tradition for 12^th graders to purchase a special ‘Matric’ class jacket. Emblazoned with branding that relates to their school, it carries special meaning and is worn with pride and nostalgia for years afterwards. But, as it is an extra expense, almost none of our families can provide them. So, the hooded sweaters our Infinite Family provides are a great way for our teens to participate. 

They are also a long-lasting reminder to our Net Buddies that they're part of a global family that cares about their success and wellbeing. We’re so grateful that you’ve made this winter a little warmer and a lot more inspiring for them! Click here so they can thank you themselves. 

Net Blazer News 

Net Blazers are the young men and women of Infinite Family who have graduated from high school, (bringing their formal relationship with us to a close) and gone on to pursue the life goals they’d set themselves. As you’d imagine, our Alumni hold a very dear place in our hearts and their links with us, and their mentors, often continue long after they’ve found their way in the world.

Lebohang M. from Soweto was among our earliest Net Buddies and joined our program back in 2010, at a particularly vulnerable time in his young life. He had just lost his mother, and he and his younger sibling were being supported by their older sister, who was forced to give up her dreams of studying to take care of them.

3 Video Mentors and 15 years later, he’s thriving, in a leadership position at a digital solutions business and giving his older sister the same gift she gave to him – an education to help her attain the better future she wants and deserves. 

As so many of our Net Buddies and Net Blazers do, Mofokeng credits the support of his mentors for helping him through some tough times and encouraging him to stay strong and focused.  He took the time to write about his mentorship journey for us. Click here to read about the long-lasting impact of the wonderful work you do as part of our Infinite Family. 

Your Biggest Gift to Our Teens? Knowing You Have Their Backs 

Our Net Buddies grow up in township communities where every day takes grit and staying in school is a tough choice. So it’s hard to see teens who have done the hard yards, stayed focused and earned themselves places at college be let down by an educational funding system that is so badly stacked against them. 

News has just broken in South Africa of students (thankfully, none from Infinite Family) who were awarded bursaries for tertiary study this year, and have already racked up big bills for the first semester, only for the funder to reveal that they do not have the resources to pay what they’ve promised. It’s a crushing start that has left youngsters and their families facing insurmountable debts and, perhaps even worse, is a criminal abuse of their hope and ambition. Sadly, while more outrageous than most set-backs, South African teens are constantly bombarded by the impacts of others' decisions that don't take responsibility for the devastation they cause. 

THIS is why you, our precious Video Mentors are so critical in the lives of our Net Buddies. It would be easy to give up if they didn’t have the belief that someone – YOU – knows what they are capable of, and cares about helping them stay on track to achieve their dreams and build the brighter future they deserve.

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

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

Thank you for being our Infinite Family

"I am grateful for Infinite Family. It saved my life."  ~Lebohang, Net Buddy 2010-2014

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