Oodles of UP-preciation to all our facilitators, sUPporters and newest members of JOY-WORKS!!!
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What’s been UP? Joy works, youngSTARS and our joy family and joy sUPporters
all - growing UP - together!
Dear JOY Family,
There’s so much to UPdate you on and so many people to thank!
To our donors, facilitators, volunteers and partners: your care keeps our joy works UPpening. Together, we’re not just boosting joy, we are creating opportunities for people to feel connected, appreciated and equipped to care for themselves, each other and our world. |
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5 regions - joy works
Our latest outreach tally records 610 people reached
through 14 community groups and organisations
part of our wider joy works across five South African regions this year.
We’ve shared movement, music, play and practical Joy-tools with young people, seniors, people with disabilities, caregivers and educators. This curriculum is now so ready to scale.
Every group brings different needs. We tailor each experience, making space for gentle movement, laughter, meaningful connection and everyday social emotional wellness - aka - JOY skills.
A special highlight has been a cross-pollination where our UP4JOY youngSTARS - were sharing joy with seniors and educators - discovering how much giving joy - helps all to win -and that joy works across all generations. |
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| | | JOY-TOOLS are a fundamental to our joy works.
This is one of our favourite's
BRAGG (with a dbl G) - the only BRAGG we should all use...
TRY IT - it works - creative joy-tools
worked and re-worked over 23 years of joy works!
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| | 3 Terms and our Filming Retreat complete!!!
“UP4JOY Game On” is gearing UP for it's next level!!
Our UP4JOY youngSTARS in Soweto and Cape Town have completed three terms of learning, creating and practising kindness in action.
September brought our filmed retreat: a chance to connect, celebrate and capture the stories of these 21 Grade 11 young people.
Now we’re working towards the UP4JOY film and 2027 campaign, with the bold intention of reaching 20 schools and catalysing joy to over 20k young people.
These UP4JOY activations will be expertly guided by our joy facilitators in our 5 regions and boost morale - through screenings and facilitated joy works that invite more young people to play #UP4JOY.
Our youngSTARS have stepped up - they know their joy-tools - they're ready to take on Gr12 and we will continue to support them every quarter next year too.
UP4JOY - has moved into our monthly giving needs - join UP - if you are ready to help inspire the next wave.
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OUTREACH and other UPpenings |
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EDUCATORS & CAREGIVERS - MASSSIVE JOY
Caring for the people who care for others
Caregivers and educators give so much.
Our MASSSIVE JOY programme creates space for them to receive appreciation, reconnect with themselves and explore practical self-care.
Currently we give JOY SESSION to educators and caregivers from government schools and hospitals - and funding supports UP to give these sessions to these beneficiaries at no cost.
A facilitated JOY SESSION experience becomes an invitation for them to continue - their joy UP-skilling - and in 2027 we will re-launch a 10-day WhatsApp MASSSIVE JOY journey, with check-ins and top-ups to help keep their joy practice alive.
Because caring for ourselves belongs alongside caring for others - keeps us UP! |
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Being directly part of joy work |
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Our enhanced online Facilitate JOY training offers learning at your own pace, supported by a manual and access to practical Joy-tools.
Anyone keen to can enhance joy for self, others and our world can learn with The Joy Movement - our sister social enterprise. Those wishing to become accredited facilitators can choose a further pathway of five supported practical sessions, peer review and required compliance.
REMINDER COME SHARE JOY - Our complimentary online Joy Circles, on the last Wednesday of each month, continue to bring facilitators and supporters together to connect, practice moving with joy and learn & share as a community committed to making joy work. |
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| | | Growing stronger behind the scenes
We’re improving how we capture participation, joy check-ins and facilitator feedback, helping UP understand our reach and keep learning from the people we serve, how we might make joy / social emotional wellness grow.
We’re also strengthening consent, safeguarding, facilitator agreements and accreditation processes so that our systems grow alongside our uplifting programmes.
And we’re celebrating our iZinga five-star verification, another smilestone in our commitment to accountability and donor confidence.
Plus we are now hybrid -
Two dimples of the same intentional smile 😊
The UP and The Joy Movement share one mission: UPlift the People.
The UP brings donor-supported joy works into communities. The Joy Movement offers paid sessions and training, creating opportunities for facilitators to earn through their skills.
Eight facilitators are now growing their own joy brands through the booking platform. This developing partnership aims to strengthen livelihoods and contribute 20% of business profits to The UP. |
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It's our 23rd Birthday on 16th Dec and we hope you
Help us keep showing UP in 2027
We have committed people, growing joy works, truly uplifting programmes and communities we want to keep sUPporting.
We do not yet have confirmed funding for 2027, we aim to attract loVets of people giving monthly - really imagine that - 1000 giving 100 - we can do so much!!
Our 2027 goal is 50 outreach sessions each month across five regions:
• 20 sessions for seniors
• 20 MASSSIVE JOY sessions for caregivers and educators
• 10 sessions in hospitals, schools and children’s homes
Your monthly support helps us plan ahead, support our freelance joy facilitators and return to beneficiaries consistently every quarter.
🌻 Become a monthly JOY-WORKS supporter—from ZAR 100 per month:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/joy-works
You can also sponsor an outreach session, introduce us to a potential partner or share this invitation with someone who believes in our work.
EFT DETAILS
UPliftment Programme
Standard bank
07-253-854-6 CURRENT
ACC Branch: CLAREMONT
Business Donors
We welcome Brands / Businesses to support our joyful activities!
With just R5,000 your company can sponsor a whole joy session. |
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JOY IS - ON THE UP!
Thank you for believing in UP's joy works.
Thank you for every way you help UP make joy grow.
With love and UP-preciation,
The UPliftment Programme JOY Family |
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