Elise and Jon Fletcher, Thailand

Having lived in this slum community since 2014, we have seen that for many families, life is fragile and chaotic. Many people are living simply to survive, and this hand-to-mouth existence means a family can quickly face crisis if the breadwinner is unable to work and pay the rent on time.

The most important aspect of our ministry is being present in this community, investing in relationships, listening deeply and sharing in people’s joys and sorrows. Day-to-day, this could mean taking someone to hospital, visiting a neighbour in prison, helping to fight evictions, supporting local leaders, or just being a listening ear.

We also support local families to stay together as poverty is the driver for the high number of orphanages in Thailand. Through Step Ahead Thailand (SAT), we offer support to families who need it with the Keeping Families Together project.

We hope to see family crises averted, parents supported and children living stable and fulfilled lives. We hope to see people find new space to dream and use God-given skills, and that the local church will be empowered to bless and include those on the margins.

Jon is also working towards seeing all children in safe and nurturing families through his role on the Alternative Care Thailand (ACT) team, which is working with the Thai government to reform the care system. Jon uses his medical background to advocate for care reform, bringing a trauma-informed perspective from his years of working as a GP.

We hope that this work will lead to policy change that will eventually trickle down to families in communities like ours.