"What a rewarding experience it has been. I've had a
chance to know Sarah over a year and a half now."
Jenica Myszkowsky, Infinite Family Mentor
Putting It Into Perspective
Not everyone can adopt a child from a poverty stricken nation, but maybe you can add a little light to a child's day from the comfort of your own home.
BEING A TEENAGER IS TOUGH! Young people in sub-Sahara Africa have an even more difficult time than your average teenager. These statistics may help put things in perspective:
* An estimated 55 million children in sub-Saharan Africa have lost at least one parent, AIDS accounts for 14.7 million of them. (SOURCE: United Nations)
* Almost two million South African children live in inadequate housing, while 43 percent do not have access to piped water. (SOURCE: Children's Institute, University of Cape Town)
* 80 percent of students in grades four and five did not reach the lowest international benchmark for reading literacy tests. (SOURCE: Progress in International Reading Study, University of Pretoria's center for evaluation and assessment.
IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH EFFORT: By sharing only 30 minutes of your time each week, you can make a huge impact on a child's life. As a video mentor you can share your life and experiences face to face. You can even help a child with their homework; give advice, and so much more. Don't be nervous. Online webinars and training sessions are available for each mentor. You can do so much with so little effort, all from your home or office!
THERE ARE MORE WAYS TO HELP: Even if you don't think you have the time to be a mentor, there are several other ways you can help. Sub-Saharan teenagers need everything from basic nutritional meals to equipment for their video chats. By making a donation you can facilitate the support necessary for these teens to transform into contributing members of their society. You can visit http://infinitefamily.org/makeagift.html to make a donation.
