In a small township a few hours drive from Yangon (Rangoon) Tracy came across an orphanage in desperate need of attention.

The village itself was dangerously poor and the locals were struggling as a community to provide food and care for its orphaned children. Many of the children had lost their parents through HIV/ Aids, poverty, disease, malnutrition or the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. They ate rice off a banana leaf. Their clothes were rags. Many had never seen a foreigner.

There was no hope in their eyes.

The orphanage was completely dilapidated and under resourced. It was run by a local headmaster, aged 78, who had not been paid in 10 years. The kids were thin and sick. There were just three filthy beds for 20 children and beside them some lay sleeping on the floor. There were no covers on the windows. No toilets or showers. No running water. The cooking area was a hovel.

The situation was heartbreaking and untenable.

For Tracy the goal was clear. To renovate the orphanage as quickly as possible and put funding in place to address these unacceptable living conditions for the orphaned children of the village. The starting point was to provide some new clothes which immediately brought a smile to their faces.

But that was only the beginning of the project. Much was still needing done. Tracy formed a committee in the village to make things happen and enable the community to take ownership of the project. And the new orphanage, supported by volunteers and local people, can manage up to 75 kids.

The renovations began in 2004 and the new orphanage opened in 2005. The following year's project was to rebuild the local kindergarten which is now used by up to 50 children.

Tracy also supports a local monastery just outside the township, home to 60 novice monks and some of the village children.

Her latest plan is to build sleeping accomodation with shower and toilet for the girls who are cared for by the monastery but are now too old to share sleeping quarters with the young monks.

So money is needed to help pay staff wages as well as covering the cost of the new sleeping block. To make a donation please email Tracy: info@mccf.uk.com.