Where would we be without mentors?
January is National Mentoring Month, which creates an opportunity to shine a light on the value of mentorship as a way to support youngsters who are grappling with school and life. And, more importantly, it’s our annual chance to celebrate our own team of mentors who give their time and their wisdom every week to help our Infinite Family teens find their way in the world.
We literally could not do what we do without these wonderful, thoughtful, caring, and inspiring people who are appreciated more than they will ever know!
Take Dr Jagruti Gandhi, who has been with Infinite Family since 2012 and, so far, has mentored eight Net Buddies in different South African locations. Affectionally known to them as Jagi, she says, “I love what I do and these children need support.”
Drawn to get involved by an awareness of the many obstacles they face (at home, at school and in their communities) and her desire to make a positive impact, she says she finds mentoring to be ‘very fulfilling and noble work.’ Currently, Dr. Gandhi is mentoring two Net Buddies from different locations in Johannesburg and says she is struck by the stories they share during their sessions and their resilience and determination to succeed despite their many daily challenges. “I learn as much from them as they do from me and watching them improve their academic performance and grow in confidence makes it a fulfilling and impactful endeavor.”
Fundamentally, Jagi is driven by her belief that education is the important foundation on which her mentees can build a better future for themselves. She says many of their weekly online conversations focus on encouraging them to stay in school and on opening their eyes to the rewarding life they can have if they work hard.
One of her current Net Buddies, Hlubi*, cannot thank Jagi enough for the role she has played in her young but difficult life.
Hlubi and her mother, along with her two older siblings moved into Nkosi’s Haven when she was about two (2) years old. The mother passed away two years later, when Hlubi was four (4), and the children were left in the care of the institution. When she was nine (9) years old, Hlubi and her siblings were taken in by the mother’s relatives who lived in a township in Johannesburg. She shares that life was very hard for her and her siblings. She often found herself missing ‘home’ (Nkosi’s Haven) as it was difficult to cope with the township’s harsh circumstances. Hlubi grew up quickly as her new guardian provided a lot of responsibility and chores rather than the care the children needed.
During her first year of high school, Hlubi and her sister were sent to another province to live with other unfamiliar relatives. Things were even harder at the new home where Hlubi said she and her sister endured emotional and verbal abuse and threats of physical abuse from their second set of new guardians.
Hlubi reportedly ran away repeatedly to live with friends and, at times, people from church. As a result, she missed a year of school. When she was 18 years old, Hlubi found her way back to Nkosi’s Haven and had to wait for another year before she could restart high school in 2023. During her second ‘gap year,’ she joined the Infinite Family mentoring program and was matched with Jagi.
Hlubi talks about her initial experience of being mentored as being both nice and tough at the same time. She describes herself as having been lost in this world, not knowing what to do and with no idea of her capabilities. She says she was shy and not confident, and used to doubt herself a lot. But as soon as she met Jagi she realized that her future depended on going back to school.
Going back to school after missing two (2) years was anxiety-provoking, however, with Jagi by her side, Hlubi was able to navigate the hardships and uncertainties. “My life is so different [since] I met my mentor. I am able to set boundaries and take responsibility [for] things I need as well, it also helped [me learn to be on time.] I am now able to communicate with people and do a lot of things without being shy, and yes, I’m proud because if I didn’t meet her, I wouldn’t be where I am.” Going back to school was hard for Hlubi, and her initial grades were ‘very bad.’ She started doubting herself and wanted to quit, but Jagi pushed her on. “I’m proud and thankful for having such a lovely mentor because I ended up passing with good results, and now, I am in matric, which is Grade 12. She really did what she had to, and today, as I stand up tall and brave, I’m grateful for having her ❤️❤️👏,” she shared in a text.
Just like every young person growing up under difficult circumstances, Nthabi has hopes and dreams and one of them is changing the world to be a better place for all. She hopes to follow a career in Law, Social Work (working with children) or become a flight attendant. With the support of her beloved Jagi, she is determined to turn these dreams into a reality.
Dr. Gandhi encourages others to consider becoming mentors, “Let’s help them not drop out of school and talk to them about the importance of education and the rewarding life they can have,” she asserts.
Click here to see a full list of our 2024 and 2025 Video Mentors.
Note: Photos and quotes are all real Infinite Family Net Buddies. For their safety, we change the names and images to protect the identities of minor-aged teens.