| What is the
purpose of a JfL Class? |
To help unemployed and underemployed
individuals make sense of their lives and become equipped
to obtain and retain meaningful employment.
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| What are the
basic elements of a successful JfL class? |
- Training
– The training couples timeless principles from
the stories of people in the Bible with basic job readiness
skills. The goal of the class is to show how these principles,
if applied in one’s life, lead to success in the
workplace and in life.
- Community of Support
– Every student is provided a champion, an individual
committed to helping the student win. In addition, other
volunteers are engaged with the class to create a unique
environment of community during the training. Through
this support system, students are connected to resources
previously unavailable to them and provided enduring friendships
they can access over a lifetime.
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| Why is the
Bible used as the course’s textbook? |
- JfL provides a tool to help people make
sense of struggles in their lives that keep them from
meaningful employment—the Bible is designed to help
people make sense of life
- The Bible is a “proof source”
full of examples of people who been transformed and have
overcome barriers to succeed
- The Bible deals with human struggles common
to all people across time and tells the story of the journeys
of people like us
- It is widely accessible, available in
almost every language, and serves as a common historical
reference point
- The Bible transcends time, age, class,
race and culture
- JfL’s history and success rate attest
to the strength of a program based on Biblical principles
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| How do we
decide whether we should run a JfL class? |
- First of all, is there a need in your community?
Are there people with whom you are connected that are
unemployed and underemployed (they are working but not
able to meet their financial needs)? If so, then there
is a need for a class.
- Do you have people who are willing to
provide support and encouragement to the students? It
is critical to the students’ success that they have
a community of support as they take the class. At minimum,
each of the volunteer site leadership positions should
be filled before a class takes place
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| What
do we need to have in place to run a JfL Class? |
- Students
– access to unemployed and underemployed individuals
who have a desire to go to work
- Leaders
– people at the site who can fill the 7 site leadership
roles
- Champions
– a group of individuals (amount depends on the
number of students in the class) who are willing to support
and encourage the students during the class and once they
are employed
- Instructors
– individuals willing and able to teach the course
content (amount of instructors is determined by the site
leadership)
- Volunteers
– individuals recruited by the site leadership team
to perform other support functions for the class including
but not limited to providing refreshments for the class,
praying, offering child care, providing transportation,
participating in a businessperson roundtable, etc.
- Space –
Adequate space to hold the class and provide child care
(if necessary)
- Funding
– A one-time cost to receive JfL Site Toolkit (includes
everything a site needs to run a class for 10 students)
and funding for additional class materials ordered on
an as needed basis from JfL headquarters. Additional costs
for a class might include facility fees, food/refreshments,
and costs for graduation including food, programs, decorations,
etc. Much of what is needed for a class is easily provided
by volunteers or donated items.
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| How
long is a class session? |
Each class session is designed to be
2 hours in length.
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| Where
and when are classes held? |
Typically, the classes are held at the
JfL Site. The rooms should have enough space for the students
and instructor as well as those volunteers who are participating
in the class. In addition, there should be enough space
for child care and refreshments in areas where the class
is not disrupted.
Classes are held at times that are conducive for the particular
JfL site. JfL classes have been held in the day, at night,
2 days/week, 4 days/week, etc. It is really up to the discretion
of the site.
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