Prepare South African Teens to Succeed in School,

Happy New Year, everyone!  We’re anticipating another year full of new ideas, new opportunities, and, of course, a few challenges, and we are very happy to have you taking this journey with us. Before we rush headlong into what lies ahead, let’s take a moment to look back at what your support for South Africa's teens achieved in 2023.  

While we’re so disbursed around the planet, it can be hard to get a sense of what our efforts accomplish. Putting some numbers to the work we do always helps to make things more tangible … and serves as an important reminder that every single gift you make contributes to a meaningful difference in the lives of our Net Buddies.  

Your Impact in 2023

• 232 Teens strengthened weekly in 3 marginalized communities;
• Mentors provided support from 21 Countries and 39 US States;
• 4,100 Mentoring Sessions;
• 9,300 Teen-initiated activities to build English, education, and employment skills; and
• 4,800 Hours of Homework, research and skills development.

Above and beyond the numbers related to life-changing opportunities that you create for South African teens, you also leave a positive, and permanent imprint on all of our Mentors' lives too. I’ve seen Mentors who photoshop their Net Buddies into their family photos for proud display in their homes and know Mentors whose Net Buddies are still in their lives – 16 years after they met! We were reminded in December how important these relationships are to both parties in the comments made by Video Mentor Angela at the Step-Up Ceremony for her Net Buddy Lesedi.

Like all your mentors, I’m so grateful to Infinite Family for bringing Lesedi and me together and for showing us all that, no matter the differences between us - in age and race and circumstance – the thing we have in common, the thing that matters more than anything, is our shared humanity.  Lesedi and I are just two women, from different worlds, who found a connection. The world needs more of it.

Read Angela’s entire speech here   

We are deeply grateful that you share our belief that relationships are the key to keeping teens on track and making good decisions. You are the reason that Lesedi and Angela were able to support each other (yes, I said support each other as you will see in the full text) for more than three years.

Thank you for keeping our Net Buddies in your lives and steadfastly being part of our Infinite Family.

Links:

• Infinite Family website
• Angela's Step-Up Ceremony Speech