ABOUT JOY
Our Mission
JOY International is dedicated to the prevention of child trafficking and to the freedom, healing, and empowerment of trafficked children, teens, and young adults worldwide.
Our Vision
Our vision is to see each captive set free from a life of slavery to experience the true joy of reaching their greatest potential in every area of life.
Our Values
SEEK JUSTICE
We are tenacious, determined, and resilient in our pursuit of freedom for enslaved and trafficked persons. We are consistent, prioritizing long-term success over short-term gain. We advocate for the oppressed and enslaved while honoring them as autonomous and unique individuals made in God's image. We honor survivors by not exploiting their stories, honor others by not publicly criticizing them, and honor the Lord in our words and deeds. We are marked by integrity, we are transparent and do the things we say we will do.
LOVE MERCY
We work from rest, we prioritize Sabbath and guard against burnout through personal health and self-care. We prioritize the health and relationships of our own families first, understanding that building a better world starts in our own homes (what good is it to gain the world but lose your soul, what good is it to "save" others but lose our families?). We are quick to forgive when other organizations, co-workers, partners, or clients fail us or wrong us.
WALK HUMBLY
We collaborate and cooperate with others. We understand that we cannot do this work alone. We are humble, we understand that we do not always have the best answers, thus we rely on each other and our partners to complete our work. We are honest with our limitations, using our “No" to prioritize the things we have said "Yes" to. We know that we do not save anyone, (only God can save), we simply partner with his ongoing work in the mission that He has given us. Our faith is the core of who we are and is emphasized by our reliance on God.
Our Story
Founded in 1981 by Dr. Jeff Brodsky, JOY International began with his calling to share the joy of Jesus by serving vulnerable children. Inspired by John 15:11, Dr. Jeff traveled around the world supporting children’s homes and ministries, bringing hope and care to children in need. JOY’s early work reached countries including India, China, Russia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mexico, Uganda, Kenya, Venezuela, and Fiji.
In the 1990s, JOY became increasingly aware of the growing crisis of human trafficking and the heightened risks faced by children living in poverty. In response, the organization shifted its focus toward preventing trafficking and helping survivors experience freedom and healing.
JOY initially partnered with organizations involved in undercover rescue efforts. In the early 2010s, the organization began focusing on training and equipping international law enforcement agencies and anti-trafficking task forces. This approach helped rescues occur through proper legal channels while increasing the likelihood that traffickers would be arrested and prosecuted. Through these partnerships, JOY has contributed to the freedom of more than 3,000 children, teens, and young women.
Recognizing that freedom is only the beginning, JOY developed a more comprehensive approach built around four pillars: prevention, freedom, healing, and empowerment. This work has included supporting safe homes, strengthening survivor-care organizations, raising awareness, and providing long-term resources that help survivors rebuild their lives.
In 2018, JOY expanded its prevention efforts in rural Uganda, providing vulnerable girls with education, food, clothing, medical care, hygiene supplies, and other essential support. This program helps protect girls who are at risk of trafficking or forced early marriage.
JOY later partnered with Mukti International to establish the JOY International Mukti Home, a safe home in Nepal serving girls ages 8 to 18 who have survived trafficking. The home provides safety, education, trauma-informed care, legal advocacy, and long-term support.
Since 1981, JOY International has worked in more than 35 countries and impacted the lives of nearly one million vulnerable children. What began as Dr. Jeff’s calling has grown into a global community committed to preventing trafficking, helping survivors find freedom and healing, and empowering them to build hopeful futures.
“Alone we can do a little, but together, we can bring these children out of a life of hopelessness and into a life of JOY.”
— Dr. Jeff Brodsky