Ms. Jean Madden - Recognizing the Innovative Designer of Street Swags for the Homeless

A "swag" is a waterproof sleeping bag and mattress used by Australian stockmen (similar to the cowboys of the U.S.) when camping in remote areas. Although convenient for carrying on the back of a horse or in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, it is quite bulky for people to carry.

Upon hearing that the local homeless population was being relocated out of the city without charitable help, Brisbane schoolteacher Jean Madden designed a compact portable version of the swag for their use. With her mother's assistance, Jean developed a prototype of her design, named Street Swags, which have a compartment for storage and can be carried over the shoulder like a bag, thus allowing the owners a bit of dignity. Since Golden Year 2 (2005), thousands of Street Swags have been produced by inmates of a Brisbane jail and donated to the city's homeless.

For her selfless spirit of service to humankind, creativity and kind-hearted generosity, in October 2007 our Association members from Brisbane presented Jean Madden with a Shining World Compassion Award from Supreme Master Ching Hai. Ms. Madden was overjoyed to receive the Award, saying, "I feel like I don't deserve such a wonderful award because I'm just doing God's work."

Jean has patented the design of the Street Swag and is working on producing them for the homeless across Australia and worldwide, as well as offering the swags as emergency bedding for disaster victims.

For more information on Street Swags, please visit: www.streetswags.org