This project will support 100 orphaned youth from South Africa's most disinvested neighborhoods Infinite Family matches pre-teens and teens with adult video mentors. Our mentors act as role models who teach, discuss, challenge, encourage, befriend, and love; they act as agents of self-reliance.
There are currently 3.7 million orphans in South Africa representing 22% of under-18s. The result is only a 1:1 ratio of adults to children in Sub-Saharan Africa, as opposed to 4:1 in the industrialized countries. Simply put, there just are not enough adult role models to go around. Furthermore, in South Africa unemployment stands at 52% between the ages of 15-24. The most at risk youth need extra support to equip them with vital skills they need to gain long-term employment.
Through face-to-face mentoring via the Internet, our Mentors build skills in five core areas: education, technology, career preparation, communication, and life skills. By focusing on these key areas, our Mentees develop to become self-reliant young adults. Mentors act as role models who teach, discuss, challenge, encourage, befriend, and love; they act as agents of self-reliance.
Results from an impact evaluation of program alumni are encouraging. For example, 75% program alumni, who have finished secondary school, are in employment or higher education. In addition, alumni show a continued commitment to their health and wellness in a particularly challenging environment. Alumni also show encouraging evidence they use goal setting to achieve their long term aims in life.Our alumni plan for the future and the vast majority are on the way to reaching their life's goals.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
