The Melissa Cosgrove Children's Foundation is a non charitable not-for-profit organisation founded in 2003.

But work has been going on to help disadvantaged children throughout Asia for over 18 years now.

The Foundation works in Thailand, Myanmar (Burma) and Pakistan bringing hope and happiness to disadvantaged children - children with HIV/Aids, street children, slum dwelling children, trafficked children and orphans.

More about Tracy Cosgrove

To those that know her, it is of little surprise that Tracy has achieved such great success with the Foundation (for example, in one year Tracy has sourced more than £600,000 worth of goods direct from suppliers to take to the children in Asia).

Tracy has always been entrepreneurial. At the age of 12, at her all girls school, she noticed that there was no tuck shop, so she started one. On leaving school, she decided to be a traffic warden. When she went for the interview she was told she was too young and too small (she's 5ft 0). By the end of the interview, she had made them change their rules, becoming the smallest, youngest traffic warden in the UK.

Tracy cares passionately about her work with the Foundation. She personally identifies and chooses the projects that are supported. Tracy believes that any individual child's short term happiness is as important as the long term goals of the project. Taking them for a dinner in a hotel or a trip to the local water park, instantly brings some cheer.

The family around her

Tracy has an army of supporters helping her. Her parents and two children are her key team, helping her with anything and everything. Then there are groups of friends and volunteers who she calls on to help with everything from organising fund raisers to packing containers. Sponsors make a huge difference too, donating items desperately needed or providing essential discounts on food, travel or accommodation. And not forgetting her newest and largest family members - the children of Thailand, Myanmar (Burma) and Pakistan who so want to be helped and allow the Foundation to do such great work.

Where next for MCCF

Much of the earlier efforts of MCCF concentrated in Thailand but the Foundation has been working in Myanmar (Burma) for over four years now and plans are afoot to extend its reach to Pakistan.

There is so much more to do and Tracy's ambitions and conviction never cease to amaze those that meet her. The first orphanage in Myanmar (Burma) opened in June 2005 and the following year a kindergarten for 50 children was rebuilt in the same township.

But Tracy can't do it alone. See How You Can Help for more details on how you can make a difference.