The Foundation of Joy's Jesu Club - Providing Hope for the Unemployed in Walmer, Gqeberha.

Joy to the Nations Church (Villiers Road, Walmer) & Pastor Glenn Weiss

In light of the recent surge of negative news, it's refreshing to share a positive story in our city. The Joy to the Nations Church in Walmer established the Jesu Club three years ago, aiming to support the numerous unemployed individuals in the Walmer community following the COVID-19 epidemic. The Jesu Club, inaugurated on 9 June 2021 at Joy to the Nations Church in Walmer, operates under Pastor Glenn Weiss's leadership. It aims to foster joy by helping individuals acquire skills that lead to employment. Since unemployment frequently results in poverty and, subsequently, crime, securing employment for the jobless is crucial to preventing poverty and diminishing crime rates. Joy to the Nations has positioned itself in response to our country's most pressing challenges: inequality, poverty, and unemployment, and it serves as an inspiration to other churches and the broader community.

At Joy to the Nations, members live in a varied community, placing importance on the well-being of others and endeavour to support their fellow community members.

The work in the community has grown to the point that on 25 October 2022, they established a Non-Profit Company (NPC) called the FOUNDATION OF JOY, which on 4 June 2024 obtained official Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) status from SARS. The PBO status means that they are approved to issue S18A tax-deductible certificates to donors.

The Community Project Initiatives under the Foundation of Joy categoriseded as an NPC/PBO, encompass the following areas of focus:

• The Jobs Club, also known as JESU Club (Joy Employment & Skills Upliftment Club), convenes every Wednesday morning. All job seekers are welcome to attend, free of charge. They provide skills training where possible and ministry and encouragement to job seekers. Its skills development program encompasses computer literacy, domestic training, gardening, health, and safety training. Joy Stitches was created to train candidates in important skills like sewing, crocheting, beading and knitting. Financial literacy training is also offered to those choosing to be entrepreneurs. Each attendee receives a hot meal, a liquid refreshment and a dry food pack to take home. The Jesu Club also promotes community service with 'Love Walmer', focusing on maintaining the cleanliness around the streets of their Walmer Church by keeping it free of litter and weeds.
  

Jesu Club

'Love Walmer' in action

Joy Stitches

• Food Provision Projects encompass Farming God's Way Jesu Gardens, the packaging and distributing dry foods, citrus, and fresh vegetables from the Joy Garden. Weekly hot meals are prepared and served to the around 60 attendees of the weekly Jobs Club. The goals are: 1. Running of vegetable gardens to benefit the Walmer area's underprivileged communities. 2. Periodic training in Farming God's Way, enabling people to provide for themselves through home-based Gardens of Faithfulness.

Jesu Gardens

Distribution of food

• A Pregnancy Crisis Centre called Heart for Alternatives. Since 2010, it has been changing and saving lives by providing essential counselling and support for pregnancy. They provide support to women from all cultures, races, ages, and religions who are dealing with crisis pregnancy situations. They are integrated into a city-wide network that includes NGOs, doctors, clinics, schools, colleges, NMMU, and churches throughout Port Elizabeth. They offer: 1. Free pregnancy tests 2. Pre/post-abortion counselling 3. Practical support and parcels of baby product items 4. Practical counselling courses for volunteers

What have the Jesu Club achieved over the past 3 years?

2	Artisans qualified
12	Small businesses and entrepreneurs supported
22	Joy Stitches trainees
29	Volunteers
40	Tons of citrus distributed
54	Partners
60	The average attendance at each Jesu club meeting
64	Jesu Club members employed after 3 years
120	Bags of litter collected from the Walmer Project
130	Inspiring club meetings held throughout the past 3 years to equip and encourage members
440	Farming God's Way trainees through Joy to the Nations
1045	Active Job Seekers in the database
2900	Hot meals and fresh produce are distributed
7990	Food packs packed and distributed by Jesu Club members and much more for the street ministry
Many	Salvation and baptisms

Development Projects planned for 2024

1. Sewing skills training Program: A 2nd group of 10 ladies will be trained. This will include basic business skills (Duration 6 months)

2. Skill Wise: This is an accredited computer training course (MS Office). Thirty delegates will complete 6 to 8 weeks of intensive training.

3. Financial life skills course to be presented.

4. Practical Carpentry skills training program: pallet wood furniture manufacturing and selling.

5. Cooking and baking training course.

6. Farming God's Way training course over 6 weeks. (Two courses)

7. Entrepreneurship and Small Business start-up training program.

8. Work readiness program over 11 days.

How can you assist the Jesu Club or any specific project of the Foundation of Joy?

If you wish to support the Jesu Club or any particular initiative of the Foundation of Joy, numerous avenues are available for you to contribute positively. Volunteering your time and expertise is one of the most impactful ways to aid the organisation's projects.

Consider becoming an employment partner to assist in placing candidates into suitable employment positions. Furthermore, you can support by donating to the Jesu Club or the Foundation of Joy. Financial donations are crucial for the long-term success and growth of non-profit organisations. Your contribution can support important projects, such as the construction of a planned borehole at Jesu Gardens. This borehole will help with the production of fresh vegetables and help provide essential services to the community, benefiting those who require assistance.

Furthermore, you can assist by spreading the word about the Jesu Club and the Foundation of Joy to your friends, family, and social networks. By sharing information about the organisation and its work, you can help raise awareness and attract more support from a wider audience.

Another alternative is to sustain the ongoing supply of food to unemployed individuals and their families or to assist in the weekly preparation of around 60 cooked meals for the Jesu Club gatherings. Secondhand clothing, kitchenware, wool, materials, beading and books are always welcomed by those less fortunate individuals.

Overall, there are many ways to assist the Jesu Club or any specific project of the Foundation of Joy. By volunteering, donating, or spreading the word, you can provide valuable support that will make a significant difference and assist the organisation in reaching its objectives while positively impacting the community.

JESU CLUB, restoring joy and dignity to many needy families.

If you can assist in any way, please get in touch with Glenn Weiss or Zolani Booi at Joy to the Nations:

• Joy to the Nations office telephone number: 041 581 3779

• e-mail: info@foundationofjoy.co.za

Left to right: Mr Kaya Nkumbesi, Pastor Glenn Weiss, Mr Zolani Booi and Mr Glenn Passanah.