Making mentorship their form of charitable giving, two Auckland‑based brothers are proving that friendship, fun and guidance can create powerful ripples—reaching families, workplaces and communities far beyond a single match.
When Tapan Mukerji spoke to his brother Donny two years ago about becoming a Big Buddy, he wasn’t just sharing information—he was passing the baton.
“I was telling Donny about the process and what it meant to be a Big Buddy,” Tapan recalls. “Before long, he realised this was something he wanted to do too.”
That conversation would go on to shape both brothers’ lives—and the lives of two boys who needed a positive male role model.
Choosing Mentorship as a Way to Give Back
For Donny, the decision to become a Big Buddy came after a period of reflection.
“After some introspection about not having kids myself, and Tapan already having two children of his own, I thought—hold on—I should be the one doing this,” he says with a smile.
Donny and his wife Jenny, married for ten years, met in their 30s and spent years trying to have children through IVF.
“We came to accept this wasn’t part of our path,” Donny explains. “So we thought having a Little Buddy could be a way of experiencing time with a child and giving back to someone who needed a father figure.”
Eighteen months ago, Donny was matched with his Little Buddy, Kaelen*, who was 13 at the time.
“I threw myself into the whole process,” Donny says. “We have three fur babies, our careers are going well—but I kept asking myself, what more can I do that will give me a sense of fulfilment? Big Buddy turned out to be the answer.”
*name changed for privacy
A Buddy Who Becomes Whānau
Tapan, a father to a 14‑year‑old son and a 10‑year‑old daughter, has been matched with his Little Buddy Jayden, also 13, for over two years.
“Jayden has become part of our family,” he says simply.
Tapan’s Big Buddy journey began unexpectedly—while scrolling LinkedIn at a café.
“I saw an ad looking for men willing to spend two to three hours a week with a boy without a dad in his life. I’m great with kids—I’m always the guy entertaining them at parties—so I thought, this is something I’d enjoy and be good at. It felt like the perfect way to give back.”
Both brothers work in IT and moved to New Zealand from India with their parents as teenagers. While neither expected mentoring to reshape their sense of purpose, both say it has done exactly that.
“Becoming a Big Buddy made me realise I probably should have been a teacher,” Tapan laughs. “But I’ve also learned it’s less about mentoring or coaching intentionally, and more about just being yourself—showing up, spending time, having fun together.”
It’s Not About the Activity – It’s About the Time
Donny admits he initially felt pressure to do more.
“I thought I had to be kayaking or rock climbing every time we met,” he says. “But I realised it’s not about full‑on activities—it’s about spending time together.”
“Once you build trust, even a 15‑minute car ride can be where the real connection happens. You discover a lot just by being together.”
That sentiment is echoed by Tapan, whose love of music helped uncover an unexpected talent in his Little Buddy.
“When Jayden first sat at the drum kit, I assumed he’d played before,” Tapan recalls. “He was incredible—able to play a song he’d only heard. He’s genuinely gifted.”
Jayden’s talents don’t stop there. He recently received a full scholarship to a local college for his sporting ability.
“I was so proud watching him tackle the biggest guy on the field against a visiting Western Australia team,” Tapan says. “I tell him I’ll keep kicking the ball with him—as long as he promises to make it to the NRL.”
The Ripple Effect Through Family and Community
While Big Buddy mentoring is a one‑to‑one relationship, its impact often spreads wider.
Both families regularly include their Little Buddies in barbecues and celebrations. And although not required, Jenny has become an important part of Kaelen’s journey too.
“We’ve seen incremental differences in Kaelen over the past year and a half,” she says. “His mum told us he’s no longer scared to sleep alone and hasn’t been getting into altercations at school. He’s learning new skills and becoming more confident. It’s been incredible to witness.”
Seeing the transformation in both boys—and the positive impact on her own life—moved Jenny to take action beyond the match.
Turning Belief Into Action at Work
Inspired by the power of mentoring, Jenny nominated Big Buddy Mentoring for her workplace’s Support My Cause initiative—an employee‑led programme supporting charities meaningful to Coca‑Cola employees across New Zealand.
Her heartfelt nomination resonated across the business, earning Big Buddy $10,500 to support the recruitment and screening of more Big Buddies for boys currently waiting to be matched.
Big Buddy CEO Christie Stuart says the impact of this support is far‑reaching.
“These funds will help fuel the recruitment and screening of more Big Buddies,” she says. “The Mukerji family’s story is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. These connections matter—and the ripple effect through their whānau, workplace and community is immense.”
Ripples That Keep Spreading
That ripple extends even further within Coca‑Cola, where another Auckland‑based employee, Kalv Hayer, has been a Big Buddy for four years.
Matched with his 10‑year‑old Little Buddy Rex, Kalv—like the Mukerji brothers—has learned that presence matters more than planning.
“I thought I needed to entertain him constantly,” Kalv says. “But the most valuable moments come from just spending time together—driving back roads or kicking a ball around.”
Originally from the UK, Kalv grew up surrounded by positive male role models and wanted to give the same gift after moving to New Zealand 16 years ago.
“If you can be a positive role model, the impact can be huge,” he says. “Just by being there and being a good person, you help shape the kind of man a boy becomes.”
Why Men Step Up – and Why More Are Needed
All three men share a common motivation: a desire to give back in a way that truly matters.
“I have a happy home and work life,” Kalv says, “but there was a part missing. Big Buddy filled that.”
Donny hopes more men will step forward for the 100+ Little Buddies currently waiting.
“Everybody involved gets something out of this,” he says. “It’s an amazing experience—and more men deserve to experience it too.”
Tapan agrees.
“Whether it’s kicking a ball, having a barbecue, or going for a drive and a chat—you can be changing lives,” he says. “Not just your Little Buddy’s, but your own, your family’s, and theirs.”
As Kalv puts it:
“Sometimes all someone needs is someone to believe in them. The ripple effects of that can be powerful—and far‑reaching.”
Story written by Heather Barker Vermeer of Human Interest
