Frequently asked
questions.
A short list of the questions we get most often. If yours is not here, the door is open — write to us at the bottom of the page.
What exactly is a Joie?
A Joie is a virtual medal carrying the name and likeness of someone whose memory you wish to honor. It travels from one porteJoie to another accompanied by a personal message — a recognition, a thank you, a quiet salute. It cannot be bought back, traded, or converted into anything. It simply exists to be given.
How much does it cost to issue a Joie?
Each Joie you issue corresponds to a one-euro contribution to our reserve fund. The fund is permanent: your euro stays in it. The interest the fund generates, together with additional donations, covers the running costs of the system. Nobody profits.
Where does the money go?
Straight to a reserve fund managed by the association. It is not invested in markets for return, it is not paid to staff (we are all volunteers for now), and it is not used to buy goods or services beyond the bare technical infrastructure. The accounts are open to any member who wishes to see them.
Can I send a Joie to someone who is not yet a member?
Yes. When you give a Joie to an email address that is not yet registered, the system creates a placeholder porteJoie for that person and sends them an invitation. They can choose to accept the Joie and complete their account, or simply ignore the message.
Can the recipient refuse a Joie?
Always. A proposed Joie sits in the recipient's porteJoie as a proposition — they can accept it or decline it. If they decline, it returns to your wallet, no questions asked.
Why the Chinese character 手?
手 (shǒu) means "hand". It appears in the association's logo as the sign of the giving hand and the receiving hand — the chain of gratitude that links them. It also echoes, by happy accident, the initial of "Joie" and the first letter of Jean-Pierre Joussemet, in whose memory the project began.
Is this a charity? Are gifts tax-deductible?
Pour La Joie is a non-profit French association (loi 1901). It is not a charity in the strict sense — its purpose is the ritual of gratitude itself, not the redistribution of funds. We are studying whether the association qualifies for tax-deductible status. For now, please assume contributions are not deductible unless we explicitly issue a fiscal receipt.
Can I open a porteJoie if I am not in France?
Yes. The association is French, but a porteJoie can be opened from anywhere — and Joies travel across borders without difficulty. The interface is available in English (you are already reading it) and the wallet itself respects your language choice.
Another question?
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