An American mentoring programme is helping disadvantaged or troubled teenagers in South Africa, all through the Internet. Infinite Family connects Americans who donate $40 per month and commit to at least a year of weekly conversations with disadvantaged young people in South Africa. The donations keep the programme going and also help with community projects, buying birthday and Christmas presents for the children, and building a savings account for the child for tertiary education or to open a business. Two pilot programmes were launched at Nkosi's Haven, an NGO that supports Aids orphans, and Refilwe, an NGO that supports disadvantaged children and local communities in need. Through sponsors such as Internet Solutions, Investec and Bombardier, the New York-based Infinite Family provides video- conferencing equipment and upgrades computers so that young people - many using a computer for the first time - can access their mentor with the help of a video camera, headphones, a microphone and instant messaging.
Amy Conrad Stokes, founder of Infinite Family, adopted her son from South Africa in 2003. With a background in working with teens in gang-infested areas in the US, she started the programme and today more than 100 South African children are involved with 55 American families.
