named programs · 1 · from sources
What they call their work
Net Buddy Program
Virtual mentoring initiative connecting South African teens with global volunteers via video technology to develop skills in education, career preparation, technology literacy, communication, and life skills
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Youth One-on-One Mentoring 2 activities
- Provides virtual mentoring to South African teens through weekly video sessionsOperates the Net Buddy program, which facilitates weekly 30-minute video mentoring sessions between trained global volunteers and Black South African teens, supporting them during secondary school to develop life skills, resilience, and future opportunities. The program has facilitated over 36,000 mentoring sessions with more than 600 students by the end of 2019.
- Supports educational and life skill development for marginalized youthProvides mentoring and educational resources to South African teens to build communication, technology literacy, career preparation, and life skills. Mentees are supported in tracking school performance, writing weekly blogs, using computer labs, and engaging in respectful behavior, with progress monitored monthly.
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Program Evaluation and Impact Research 1 activity
- Conducts research on educational outcomes and mentoring impactGenerates data on the economic return of educational attainment for South African teens and previously used a proprietary survey system, ImpacTracker, to monitor and evaluate mentoring impact prior to 2017.
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Educational Technology Access and Support 1 activity
- Operates computer labs and online platforms to support mentee learningRuns LaunchPad computer labs equipped with laptops, high-speed internet, privacy booths, and workstations for South African teens to complete homework, conduct research, and attend mentoring sessions. Also operates EZNet, a secure online platform providing access to bursary databases, career videos, exam prep materials, and health information.
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College Access and Success Support 1 activity
- Supports first-generation students in transitioning to higher education and careersProvides targeted support for first-generation college and university students in South Africa to prepare for higher education and careers in the Fourth Industrial Revolution workforce through mentoring and skill development.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$224K
Contributions & grants$228K102%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$-4K-2%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$211K
Program expenses69%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising24%
Salaries & benefits$114K
Grants paid out$68K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$74K
Cash$31K
Investments$0
Liabilities$55K
Net assets$19K
Liquid reserves1.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +22.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMY C STOKES | PRESIDENT AND CEO | 20 | $90K |
board members · 8
- ANDRE NEL — DIRECTOR
- BOOI THEMELI — DIRECTOR
- ELSINA BOKABA — DIRECTOR
- JOSEPH SACCA — CHAIR
- KATLEHO LEBATA — DIRECTOR
- KEVIN TRAVIS — TREASURER
- PALESA MAKOBE — DIRECTOR
- RACHEL LOVETT — DIRECTOR
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University Partner — Cited as a research source supporting the importance of stable adult relationships in child resilience.
- Corporate partners Partner — Collaborate to support mentoring labs
- Fordham University Partner — Collaborates with Infinite Family through the Ubuntu Academic Service Learning Program and student/faculty exchanges.
- Gauteng Province Partner — Location where Net Buddy mentees live and receive mentoring services
- Individual sponsors Partner — Provide financial or in-kind support for mentoring labs
- McKinsey Partner — References McKinsey study findings on mindset as a determinant of student success.
- National Development Plan 2030 Government — Aligns work with South Africa's National Development Plan 2030 to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality.
- Net Buddy Partner — Program name for mentees participating in Infinite Family's video mentoring program.
- Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) Partner — Cites OECD research on student mindset as evidence supporting its mentoring approach.
- Shorebank Corporation Partner — Host organization where Amy Stokes created and ran Studio Air, a youth employment and mentoring initiative.
- South African funders Partner — Previously funded the organization’s video mentoring programs before closing.
- United Nations Network — Supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as part of its program framework.
- University of Pretoria Partner — Partner institution in a collaboration agreement with Fordham University that supports student and faculty exchanges linked to Infinite Family activities.
- Video Mentors Partner — Volunteer mentors who engage with South African teens through weekly video conversations and email to support skill development and educational achievement.
- Western Cape Province Partner — Location where Net Buddy mentees live and receive mentoring services
- YouTube Partner — Hosts organizational video content to share the mission and story of Infinite Family.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Economic Empowerment Through Youth Developmentmethodology: economic-empowerment-through-youth-developmentBy preparing Black teens in marginalized communities for success across school, work, and life, the organization enables them to break cycles of poverty and violence and become economic anchors for their families, because systemic investment in youth creates intergenerational economic change.
- Growth Mindset and Student Ownership Modelmethodology: growth_mindsetBy cultivating a growth and future-focused mindset and empowering mentees to take ownership of their goals and performance, the organization builds intrinsic motivation and long-term planning skills, because belief in effort and personal agency drives engagement and success in school, work, and life.
- Virtual Mentoring for Resilience and Developmentmethodology: virtual_mentoringBy connecting teens in marginalized communities with consistent, long-term adult mentors through virtual video platforms, the organization fosters resilience, self-reliance, and life readiness, because sustained supportive relationships compensate for toxic stress and local mentor shortages and enable personal development over time.