Equip African Teens to Succeed

Relebohile has always considered himself a shy person—and it didn’t help that he struggled with English. “I had difficulties reading and speaking out,” says the 20 year old, who began as a Net Buddy with Infinite Family eight years ago. “I was always the one hiding in the back of the room.” 

That changed when Relebohile met his Video Mentor, Dennis. “I was used to speaking my own language, but being a Net Buddy introduced me to English. I had to learn to speak it thoroughly so my Video Mentor and I could communicate.” Now a Net Blazer, he says, “My English has improved, both written and verbal.”

Dennis helped Relebohile learn how managing difficult family situations was just as important as learning language skills. Growing up in Soweto, his family members struggled to find work and often resorted to violence. “There was a lot of tension at home, but Dennis told me to keep calm and be positive,” he says. “He taught me that violence is not a way to solve problems—that it just causes more problems.” Relebohile’s new attitude not only helped him but also had a profound effect on his entire family. “If it wasn’t for Dennis I would still be holding grudges and there would still be tension at home,” he says. “But now, all of us are getting along.” 

Another big shift: Relebohile went from being a mediocre student to one who earned high marks. “I was lazy, actually. Before I joined Infinite Family, I’d rather play or do anything other than schoolwork,” he admits. Dennis suggested that they do homework during their video conversations. “We discussed subjects I was having difficulty with, and my grades improved a lot.” So much so that Relebohile is now in his second year of college, earning a certificate in IT, his passion. “Infinite Family introduced me to computers, which made me realize that I wanted to work in the field someday,” he says. “Dennis told me to go for it.” 

These days, Relebohile and Dennis communicate on WhatsApp and Facebook—but their communication is no less essential. “I’m from Soweto, where so many teenagers and adults are on drugs,” he says. “Dennis encourages me to be independent, and not allow that negativity to affect me.” What helps is knowing that his Video Mentor has his back. “For me, Infinite Family is where it begins—it has made me courageous, it has made me confident,” he says. “I like that it’s not just about me, but about us.”