The program seeks to achieve a balance between two objectives:

• MENTORING: under-privileged young women, from the vicinity of Addis Ababa, will go through a mentoring program and will learn the teachings and principles of Jesus to develop values and character, the result of which will make them stronger and more mature people who can face the challenges of life.
• SKILL-TRAINING: provide the young women with the opportunity to go to school and develop life long skills that will make them productive and employable in the job market.

Specifically, the program benefits pre-street girls by providing them a safe place to develop and continue their education. The program prepares the girls to become self-sufficient and productive so they can contribute to their community.

The program especially targets “at-risk” girls who would likely end up on the street without this program.  The target resident is a girl from ages 10 to 15 who is at risk of becoming a street youth and falling in to a dangerous lifestyle. Girls who are institutionalized orphans, without family, currently- housed, currently un-housed, believer or non-believer are all eligible to enter the house.

The Joy Centre was established in 2005 by Youth Impact and opened with 12 girls.  It is intended that the number will remain at 12 - as girls leave for any reason others will be found as replacements.