Our Story

JOY International was founded in 1981 by Dr. Jeff Brodsky with inspiration drawn from John 15:11, where Jesus said, “I speak these things to you so that My JOY would be in you and that your JOY would be complete.” This verse sparked the vision for the ministry of JOY International, with a heart to share the JOY of Jesus and establish children’s homes in areas with suffering children. During its early years, JOY International collaborated with existing ministries and children’s homes in India, China, Russia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mexico, Uganda, Kenya, Venezuela, and Fiji. 

After a decade of ministering to children around the world, JOY International became increasingly aware of the growing issue of Human Trafficking and how impoverished children were especially vulnerable to becoming trafficked. Once Dr. Brodsky learned of the exploitation of children that was happening through Human Trafficking, he knew that JOY International must work to combat it. Consequently, JOY International shifted its focus to prevention, freedom, and healing for those impacted by child trafficking.

Over the next several decades, JOY International partnered with organizations working undercover to bring children freedom from trafficking. After mixed success and many frustrations regarding government and police corruption, Dr. Brodsky was determined to find a better approach.  In the early 2010s, JOY International began partnering with international police teams and anti-human trafficking task forces to provide crucial training and resources allowing rescues to occur through proper channels, which resulted in a higher rate of rescues, and the arrest of perpetrators, a significant win in the fight against child trafficking. Since that time, JOY International has helped over 3,000 children, teens, and young women become free from trafficking situations. 

Throughout this time, JOY International recognized the need for a comprehensive approach to child trafficking and provided support to many partner safe homes and organizations empowering survivors of human trafficking, while Dr. Brodsky traveled the country bringing education and awareness to audiences in hopes that their awareness would lead to action in the fight against child trafficking. 

In 2018, JOY International expanded its programs to prevent vulnerable girls from being trafficked in rural Uganda. Through this program, JOY International provides safety, food, clothing, hygiene supplies, medical care, and education to girls who are most at risk of being forced into early child marriage or trafficked to larger cities.

Most recently, JOY International has partnered with Mukti International to sponsor the JOY International Mukti Home,  a safe home for survivors of child trafficking, ages 8 to 18. 

Since its inception, JOY International has now worked in more than 35 countries to support vulnerable and trafficked children and has impacted the lives of nearly one million children in need. 

Over the past four decades, JOY International has evolved from Dr. Brodsky’s personal mission into a global initiative committed to making a difference in the lives of those affected by trafficking and other forms of exploitation.