Jehovah Jireh Independent Living Programme
Supporting Young Adults as They Transition Into Independent Life

The Jehovah Jireh Independent Living Programme was created in 2023, in response to a critical gap in the care system for vulnerable young people in South Africa. According to the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, once a young person in a Child and Youth Care Centre turns 18 years old and has completed Grade 12, they can no longer remain in the Centre’s residential care. Many of these youths, however, have no family support, no place of safety to go, no income, and no means to support themselves.

To prevent these young people from facing homelessness, exploitation, or having to abandon their education, Jehovah Jireh established a dedicated programme that walks with them into adulthood: Jehovah Jireh Mustard Seed Independent Living (JJMS Independent Living).
Our Purpose

JJMS Independent Living was founded to ensure that every young adult leaving the Child and Youth Care Centre has a safe, stable place to live and the support system necessary to complete their education or transition into the workforce.
According to our constitution, the organisation’s purpose includes:

Providing hostel accommodation to qualifying students.

Offering living support to youths formerly in the care of Jehovah Jireh Mustard Seed Children’s Home while they study or seek employment.

This programme completes the continuum of care that begins in early childhood at Jehovah Jireh and continues through schooling and young adulthood.
What We Provide

The Independent Living Programme gives young adults a structured, supportive environment where they can grow, learn, and prepare for independent living.

1. Safe Accommodation

We provide secure, supervised housing for young adults who have aged out of the CYCC but are not yet ready to live independently.

2. Meals & Basic Needs

Residents receive nutritious meals, clothing, hygiene supplies, and essential items needed for day-to-day living.

3. Educational Support

Youth are supported while they pursue:

Tertiary studies

TVET college courses

Skills-development programmes

Short courses or training necessary for employment

4. Employment Support

We walk alongside young people as they:

Search for jobs

Prepare CVs

Attend interviews

Gain workplace readiness skills

5. Counselling & Mentorship

Residents receive emotional support, counselling, and Biblical guidance to help them navigate adulthood with confidence and integrity.

6. Life Skills Training

Programmes include:

Budgeting & financial literacy

Personal responsibility & discipline

Healthy relationships

Household management

Decision-making and planning

These skills are crucial for long-term stability once they leave the programme.

Building Independence Through Skills & Sustainability

To prepare young adults for the real world and to strengthen the financial sustainability of the programme, Jehovah Jireh is developing several hands-on, income-generating initiatives:

Agricultural Training

Vegetable gardens

Poultry farming
These projects provide food for the programme and teach practical skills that can lead to job opportunities or self-employment.

Skills Workshops

Young adults receive training in:

Carpentry

Tailoring and sewing

Basic building and maintenance skills

These workshops can generate income for the programme while equipping youth with employable skills.

Independent Living Preparation

The programme emphasises practical skills such as:

Managing a home

Buying and preparing food

Using public transport

Managing finances

Maintaining employment requirements

The goal is to empower each youth to thrive independently—emotionally, spiritually, and financially.
Why This Programme Matters

When children age out of residential care, they often do so without the family network that most young adults rely on. Many have experienced trauma or disrupted childhoods. Without structured support, their risk of unemployment, exploitation, and homelessness is extremely high.

The Independent Living Programme exists to change that outcome.

It ensures that each young person leaving the CYCC has:

A place to sleep

Food on the table

Clothing and essentials

A caring, supportive community

A chance to study or find work

Guidance and mentorship

A path toward independent adulthood

This programme is not simply accommodation—it is a lifeline, a training ground, and a bridge to a dignified future.
Governance & Accountability

The Independent Living Programme operates under a formal constitution that outlines:

Its objectives

Management structure

Financial accountability

Membership policies

Reporting procedures

This ensures transparency, good governance, and compliance with South African non-profit regulations.


How You Can Support the Programme

The Independent Living Programme receives no government operational funding and is fully dependent on private donations.

We rely on supporters to help provide:

Food

Clothing

Toiletries and personal-care items

Bedding and household items

Study materials

Transport costs

Skills-programme resources

Workshop equipment

Building improvements and maintenance

You can also partner with us by:

Sponsoring a student

Funding training courses

Donating tools or workshop machinery

Providing mentorship or internships

Giving monthly toward operational costs

Every contribution directly changes the life of a young adult who is working hard to build a stable, independent future.

Contact for Support

To donate, partner, or learn more about the programme, please contact us through the Jehovah Jireh administrative office:

Phone: 071 119 4729
E-mail: info@jjms.org.za
Location: Jehovah Jireh Campus, Jwala Boholo, Witsieshoek

A Bridge to a Brighter Future

Jehovah Jireh Independent Living Programme exists so that no young person is left alone the moment they turn 18. Instead, they are supported, taught, uplifted, and prepared for adulthood with dignity, faith, and hope.

Through this programme, vulnerable youth are transformed into confident, capable young adults—ready to step into independence with God by their side.
Jehovah Jireh USA
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/from-orphanage-opportunity-journey-two-young-men-rural-qwaqwa-9k3he
From Orphanage to Opportunity: The Journey of Two Young Men from Rural QwaQwa to SA's Burgeoning BPO Industry
A powerful testament to how impact sourcing can change lives and build thriving careers
In the bustling contact centres of iContact BPO's Johannesburg operations, two young men are quietly reshaping their life stories. Thabo Skosana (24) and Vusimuzi Nhlapo (23) currently work as Asset Controllers, managing, controlling and maintaining the company's assets used by its 1000+ contact centre agents. But their titles only tell part of their story - one that exemplifies the transformative power of impact sourcing and the profound difference that opportunity meeting purpose can make.
Just months ago, Thabo and Vusimuzi were facing the harsh reality that confronts countless South African youth: the seemingly insurmountable challenge of finding meaningful employment in a country where youth unemployment hovers at nearly 70%.
Today, Thabo and Vusimuzi represent hope, resilience, and the extraordinary potential that lies within South Africa's BPO sector to change lives for the better.
Humble Beginnings at Jehovah Jireh Mustard Seed Child and Youth Care Centre (Orphanage)
Thabo and Vusimuzi's journey began in a rural village in QwaQwa, where they spent their formative years at the Jehovah Jireh Mustard Seed Child and Youth Care Centre, the largest in the Free State Province. Very far removed from the economic heartlands of South Africa, these young men grew up without any exposure to the business world and no access to the family and professional networks that often open doors to job opportunities.
Like thousands of their peers, they had been applying for jobs - any jobs - with no success. The combination of their rural location, lack of any formal work experience, and the brutal realities of South Africa's job market seemed to create an impenetrable barrier to their aspirations.
But sometimes, the most extraordinary journeys begin with a single, unexpected encounter.
A Meeting That Changed Everything
When Scott Johnson, a businessman and founder of Jehovah Jireh Mustard Seed Child and Youth Care Centre met with Clinton Cohen, CEO of iContact BPO, about a business venture, the seeds of opportunity for Thabo and Vusimuzi were planted.
Meeting Thabo and Vusimuzi - two young men who had aged out of the orphanage system and were desperately seeking opportunities to build meaningful careers - Cohen recognized the opportunity that iContact BPO could provide them with. "The decision to bring Thabo and Vusimuzi into our organization wasn't just about filling positions," explains Cohen. "It was about recognizing human potential where others might only see obstacles."
Taking the Leap of Faith
Leaving everything familiar behind, Thabo and Vusimuzi embarked on a courageous journey to relocate from rural QwaQwa to Johannesburg - one of Africa's most dynamic business centers. iContact BPO didn't just offer them jobs, the company provided comprehensive support to ensure their transition would be successful. Through a donation to JJMS, iContact BPO arranged accommodation in a rented, furnished apartment close to their workplace.
Starting work at iContact BPO in March 2025, Thabo and Vusimuzi have embarked on a learning journey that extends far beyond their job descriptions. They are mastering the intricacies of the BPO industry from the ground up, developing professional relationships with work colleagues from diverse backgrounds, and learning the crucial hard and soft business skills and work etiquette that so many of us take for granted.
But their growth isn't limited to the workplace. They are simultaneously navigating personal development milestones - learning to manage their finances and income independently, adapting to urban city life, and discovering the vast career opportunities available within South Africa's expanding BPO sector.
For Thabo and Vusimuzi, the transformation has been lifechanging.
“The work culture is amazing and the people we work with – from co-workers right through to management - are incredibly supportive and friendly. We really are blessed to have this opportunity. The best part is knowing that this is just the start of our journey at iContact BPO. We are encouraged to go further and learn new skills and progress our careers – and the doors are all open for us to do so,” says Thabo.
Vusimuzi adds: “At first, we were anxious about leaving everything we know behind and moving to Johannesburg, and how and if we would manage. But that anxiety was quickly put to rest as we had so much support in getting settled and finding our feet. It feels good to know we have so many people who believe in us and the support structure at work is next level. If someone had said a year ago that we would be here, I would never have believed them. Being able to share our experience with our Jehovah Jira Mustard Seed family is the most fulfilling part - I know its impact on every other young person, as a message of hope and motivation, is huge.”
Investment in Future Success
iContact BPO's commitment to Thabo and Vusimuzi extends well into the future. Both young men will be enrolled in learnership programmes through SA Business School, a sister company within the Alefbet Group. These programmes – available to all iContact BPO employees - provide them with formal NQF-registered qualifications backed by practical work experience - credentials that will open doors throughout their careers. This investment in education and professional development reflects iContact BPO's understanding that sustainable impact sourcing requires long-term commitment to employee growth and development.
The impact of Thabo and Vusimuzi's journey extends far beyond their personal achievements. Back at the Jehovah Jireh Mustard Seed Child and Youth Care Centre, their siblings and peers have two extraordinary role models who embody hope and possibility.
"What strikes me most about Thabo and Vusimuzi is their hunger for learning," observes Cohen. "They show up every single day with incredible motivation, drive, and an appreciation for every opportunity to develop their skills. They take absolutely nothing for granted. For me as a CEO and business leader, they’re the real inspiration here and I see it in the impact they have on their work colleagues who learn about their story and how they got here. Seeing how Thabo and Vusimuzi are growing into their roles in leaps and bounds, in our business, is the most incredibly rewarding aspect of my job. Their learning trajectory - both in hard and soft skills - has been extraordinary and rapid. I know that I speak for my entire management team that we are incredibly excited to be part of and invested in their journey."

The Power of Impact Sourcing
The journey of Thabo and Vusimuzi highlights the potential of impact sourcing - a strategic approach to recruitment that prioritizes hiring from disadvantaged and marginalized communities. At iContact BPO, it's a core business strategy that drives exceptional results not only for the business, but for thousands of young people who get that first break into career-shaping opportunities.
Approximately 90% of iContact BPO's employees are recruited through impact sourcing principles. The average employee age is 23, 65% are women, and 10% are disabled - reflecting the company's commitment to creating opportunities where they're needed most.
"Financial constraints and limited job market access mean that earning a stable living is a daily struggle for more than half of South Africa's young, disadvantaged youth," explains Cohen. "By implementing impact sourcing as a strategic focus, we're able to create opportunities for disadvantaged and disabled people who would otherwise face bleak career prospects."
South Africa's BPO sector is uniquely positioned to lead social transformation while driving economic growth. With the industry consistently ranked among the world's top offshoring destinations and projections of 500,000 new jobs by 2030, the potential for impact sourcing to create meaningful change is enormous.
As Thabo and Vusimuzi continue to grow in their roles at iContact BPO, their story serves as a powerful reminder of the potential that exists within every individual, regardless of their background or circumstances. Their journey from a rural orphanage to the dynamic world of international business process outsourcing demonstrates what becomes possible when opportunity meets determination.
"Today's customer service agent could be tomorrow's team leader, HR professional, trainer, or payroll manager," notes Cohen. "We have young people from disadvantaged and disabled backgrounds who started with us in entry-level roles and have progressed to senior management and leadership positions."
In a country facing significant socio-economic challenges, Thabo and Vusimuzi stand as beacons of hope, demonstrating that the future can indeed be different - and brighter - than the circumstances of the past.
As Clinton Cohen concludes: "There is real satisfaction that impact sourcing provides in being able to do well as a business, by doing good in our community, for the people who need the door opened the most."