Sister Joan Evans Mission Project Thailand
The Sister Joan Evans Mission Project, also known as Presentation Slums Mission Bangkok, is a volunteer-led charitable organization providing essential aid to disadvantaged families, children, and the elderly in the Klong Toei slums of Bangkok, Thailand. Founded by Australian religious sister Joan Evans, PBVM, in 1992, the project began its work after she left her teaching career to assist the community she witnessed during a conference. While Sister Joan retired and returned to Australia in 2017, the work of her mission continues through dedicated volunteers.
Mission and approach
- Mission: Rooted in the belief that education and basic provisions are critical for breaking the cycle of poverty, the mission aims to provide consistent, pragmatic support to those most in need in the slum communities.
- Approach: The project operates with a focus on specific, direct aid. Programs are designed to address the most urgent needs of registered recipients, from newborns to the elderly. The volunteers build trust and rapport within the community, tracking the progress of recipients over time.
Key programs
- Milk Run: One of the project’s longest-running programs, the Milk Run provides bi-weekly deliveries of powdered milk formula to babies of mothers who cannot breastfeed, often due to being HIV positive. This program has been running since 1992.
- Rice Run: This initiative provides basic food supplies—including rice, cooking oil, and eggs—every two weeks to the elderly and disabled who cannot work.
- School Run: This program offers financial assistance to promising students from the slums, covering school fees, uniforms, and educational expenses throughout high school and university. The goal is to create new opportunities and break generational poverty.
- Fares and Food: This project provides money to children and young adults to cover the cost of transportation and food, helping them stay in school and continue their education.
- Health Care Needs: The mission assists community members with accessing necessary medical treatments.
Legacy and recognition
The project’s longevity and impact are a testament to Sister Joan’s compassionate work, for which she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2018. The continued work of the project’s volunteers, who carry on Sister Joan’s legacy, ensures that her mission to assist the disadvantaged of Klong Toei endures.