“To empower the abused and to reach out”
Helen and Jung started this campaign to help children grow up knowing how precious they are to Jesus. The message on their shirts—“You are precious to Jesus”—speaks to everyone they meet. What began as a response to the pain of sexual violence and abuse has grown into a movement that brings hope and healing in ways no one could have imagined.
How It Got Started:
IIn May 2011, we began discussing the possibility of empowering children in South African townships by sharing a message through T-shirts. Soon, we came up with the phrase “Mna ndixabisekile ku Yesu” (I’m precious to Jesus).
IIn June 2011, Jeanette in Canada joined the effort and sent us eight preliminary T-shirt designs. Nearly 100 children in Zola, a township in Strand, voted on them—and the final design was chosen by the township children themselves.
In July 2011, sample shirts were made and distributed to a small group of children in Zola.
IIn August 2011, the first batch of 140 shirts was produced and sold to supporters around the world. A team—Jj, Cindy, Jeanette, and Gary—was also formed to launch the campaign in Canada.
Since then, the message has continued to spread, and we have received support from people of all ages, genders, and ethnic backgrounds.
IIn November 2011, the first 200 shirts were distributed to children in Zola (OLIA) and at the African Leadership Children’s Churches in the BM Section of Khayelitsha.
In November 2011, the website www.PrecioustoJesus.org was launched.
On November 26 and December 10, African Leadership and OLIA organized a 1,000-children march in Site C and Site B, Khayelitsha, to raise awareness in the community about the campaign. A total of 1,000 children’s shirts were distributed, and over 6,500 leaflets were handed out.
