The day in the life of a child'
A decent meal... Some new clothes...
A fun swim... An education... And day care centres... Very basic things which we take for granted in the West but which these children do not receive...
The Melissa Cosgrove Children's Foundation is a non charitable, not-for-profit organisation founded in 2003. It was set up primarily to provide education, shelter and care for children of migrant workers who live on large construction sites throughout Thailand. The Foundation works throughout Thailand bringing hope and happiness to disadvantaged children.
From sorrow to happiness...
only with your help...
The images and what you read below are the concentrated effort, hard work, love and dedication to children from Tracy. Kind hearted people like yourself have helped to make all this possible...there are so many children that have not yet found the love and care that Tracy wants to give them...
only with your help is that now possible...
Later please look at the "What can I do to help" section at the bottom of the page..thank you
Continue giving hope and improving the lives of children...
Based in Pattaya, much of the work of The Melissa Cosgrove Children's Foundation is based in the labour camps set up by developers to service their building projects. It is very difficult in the 'civilised' West to to realise the terrible conditions under which these people live. Large galvanised iron compounds are filled with 2 storey galvanised buildings which are then divided into sections. Each family is allocated one section. How big is a section?? - 2 metres x 2 metres, with no windows, no cooking facilities, communal toilets for over 2,000 people.
The Melissa Cosgrove Children's Foundation team is working alongside the booming construction industry to continue giving hope and improving the lives of children living with their parents in the many squalid labour camps around the cities of Pattaya and Bangkok.
The Melissa Cosgrove Children's Foundation team is working alongside the booming construction industry to continue giving hope and improving the lives of children living with their parents in the many squalid labour camps around the cities of Pattaya and Bangkok.
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| ...who have been touched by her courageous story... |
Award winning Fundraising guru Tracy Cosgrove has given hope to thousands of youngsters in Thailand through the Melissa Cosgrove Children's Foundation, which she set up after seeing at first hand the terrible conditions in which many are forced to live.
Her transforming work in orphanages, street children's projects, for Aids and disabled youngsters, has received international recognition - and inspired hundreds of people who have been touched by her courageous story.
Her transforming work in orphanages, street children's projects, for Aids and disabled youngsters, has received international recognition - and inspired hundreds of people who have been touched by her courageous story.
Award winning Fundraising Guru Tracy Cosgrove
Originally from Manchester, an entrepreneur at the age of 12, bought my first brand new BMW at 18 and my first house. Came to Thailand in 1985 on holiday and loved it. Went to Hong-Kong in 1986 aged 21 on business and my research on HK was watching 1974 James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun there was a bar famous for its appearance in the film called Bottoms Up so the first day we got there we went there, I was walking down the steps and my future husband was walking up them he said don't go in there come over the road to the Cavern - of course I did and fast forward we married etc. Talk about love at first sight :)Then met and married my husband there and had my son Paul - who is now Studying Interior Architecture in Edinburgh. He is in his final year. I worked for HK's largest Designer Furniture Company working on lots of projects from the Government House, the House of the Governor of HK to the HK Shanghai banks employee houses. Earning a fortune and spending it! In the Champagne lifestyle! We then moved to Glasgow where my husband was offered a job. I bought up half of HK shipped it with us to Scotland and started an interior Design company (my husband didn't know anything about this until all the furniture arrived!).
I set up a successful interior design company in Scotland and working in Asia still and UK and Ireland working on Hotels, restaurant and homes. With my first Million Pound contract in 1994. I also worked closely with the Enterprise Companies speaking about entrepreneurial skillsIn 1998 I had a wonderful husband 2 wonderful children both at private school big house flashy cars etc and my husband was killed in a road traffic accident. I carried on working hard - as I now had to work harder - I had my employees to pay and 2 small children.In 2001 I decided I had had enough and took my children round the world for 7 months. Helped by a lot of very nice GM's of hotels who put us up in the lap of luxury. Looking at charity Projects all over the world as we traveled. Pakistan especially made an impression on me and as well as the charity aspects I looked at products made in Pakistan that I knew I could use one day.
Life changes and so do priorities...
In 2002 I became the hotel operations director for a hotel in Scotland. I renovated the hotel with everything made in Pakistan! I also started a social entrepreneur company for school children in UK. Bringing children out to Thailand and Burma to support charity projects. In 2003 I was awarded Scotswoman of the year award! In 2004 I was in the final four for Entrepreneur of the year award out of 300 companies! 2005 I won Lone Parent of the year. I still design but only once a year, my company Sanuk CSR supports Melissa Cosgrove Children's Foundation named after my daughter Melissa. I am not anywhere as rich as I was 10 years ago but I am more than happy helping 1000's of children ever year.
Life changes and so do priorities. Now I am using my entrepreneurial and networking skills to their full advantage. Motto: If you don't ask you don't get! MCCF. When my husband died and my children were 6 - 8 years old the day after my husband died Melissa sat on my bed and said at least I had a daddy for 6 years. "A" from the orphanage didn't have a Daddy!! It broke my heart but I will always remember those words and those words helped my children, as a family we had spent the Christmas's in Thailand every year, but the children didn't get presents. Instead we went to an orphanage and bought children presents. They knew these children had no parents. I knew I had to do something more. Melissa Cosgrove Children's Foundation is testament to that.
Life changes and so do priorities. Now I am using my entrepreneurial and networking skills to their full advantage. Motto: If you don't ask you don't get! MCCF. When my husband died and my children were 6 - 8 years old the day after my husband died Melissa sat on my bed and said at least I had a daddy for 6 years. "A" from the orphanage didn't have a Daddy!! It broke my heart but I will always remember those words and those words helped my children, as a family we had spent the Christmas's in Thailand every year, but the children didn't get presents. Instead we went to an orphanage and bought children presents. They knew these children had no parents. I knew I had to do something more. Melissa Cosgrove Children's Foundation is testament to that.
I am the lucky one: I see what a difference we are making...
MCCF helps children of construction workers in Thailand and Burma with some projects been on the go for over 10 years. It has taken over my life. In the last 10 years I have built a Boys Orphanage; a girl's orphanage; a nursery; a school in Burma; pay monthly wages and feed the children every month. Everything I have built in Burma has been handed back to the people. People say it's hard to work in Burma. It's not hard if you persevere; I have proved that. In 2004 donated over 1 million pounds worth of brand new goods from the UK from Harrods and many other companies for the Tsunami victims. 2005 opened the 1st orphanage in Burma: While everyone said it was impossible to do so! In 2008 was one of only a few foreigners allowed into Burma after Cyclone Nargis. There is still a lot to do in Burma and I will continue. I also went to the UN and Asian conference with 52 Countries being represented.
In Thailand I support Burmese construction workers children; many who have been dropped off many years ago and their parents have never came back to get them. I also build day care centers which are open 365 days a year for the workers of Thai Migrant Workers providing a safe clean fun learning environment. I wish to open more of these as the benefit to all is amazing: These workers are living in 6 ft x 6 ft tin houses with no windows. Sharing a toilet and bathing area; babies were often sick and development stunted. Now the children are flourishing.The oldest children who I have worked with for 8 years have now reached 18 and now hotel training is being provided and there are some amazing stories of success happening as the days pass. One person can make a difference and with the help of many friends we can all be proud of ourselves. I am the lucky one: I see what a difference we are making. I cannot operate without all the sponsors etc who are wonderful - and there is always more needed. It's hard work, but how can I not do it. Lighthouse Club (LHC) Pattaya doesn't only offer financial-support but guidance and moral support as well.
...she had a bowl of rice and a bowl of water like a dog...
One day I followed a construction workers truck we have all seen them packed with workers going around town So I followed it; found the camp and the company CEO name etc. The next day I went back and pretended the CEO had sent me. The camp boss showed me the raw sewage flowing through the camp, they showed me everything, then as we passed a house I heard a whimper; I thought it was a dog. They said: "No it's a child". The tin door was locked with a padlock. They cut off the padlock; inside was a little girl who smiled when she saw me. The tin house with no windows and no air; she had a bowl of rice and a bowl of water like a dog. Her parents had locked her up for her own safety. The next day I rang the CEO; met up with him and the first nursery was being built!! What made me do it, I don't know - I just wanted to know where all these people were going! The more nursery's we can build; the more children we can help.
What can I do to help?
This is Nong Ae and Tao. Children that are assisted by the Melissa Cosgrove Children's Foundation... Now can you imagine how GOOD it feels if WE are DOING something for THEM?!?!?! That is what it is ALL about dear friends!!! Don't forget what a great life you have.... SHARE!!! xxx
We hope you have been inspired by the initiatives the Foundation is involved with at present and can identify with the need to help disadvantaged children in Thailand.
We want and need your help.
There are a number of ways in which you can get involved.
We want and need your help.
There are a number of ways in which you can get involved.
Donate
Funds are always needed. Give as little or as much as you can. Every penny counts.
Do you have children?
I am sure, if you do; you are probably having a pretty decent mess in your store-room with old clothes, buggies, clothes, shoes, toys etc?
Now there is a way you can get rid of the mess and serve a very good cause at the same time!
The Melissa Cosgrove Children Foundation is MORE than HAPPY to collect the things you would like to donate...
The children that Melissa Cosgrove Children Foundation is taking care of are very very pleased and excited to receive your gifts... What seems to be an 'old toy' is completely new to them!
Do you want to renew the lifespan of those goods?
Please let us know!
The children will LOVE you for it!
Do you want to renew the lifespan of those goods?
Please let us know!
The children will LOVE you for it!
Have you upgraded your p.c. or laptop and a new LCD monitor, well how about donating the other parts to the children?
Bought new furniture? What are you going to do with the other furniture?
"Sponsors For Costs" can help with the administration and operational costs of running MCCF. If you can help by providing office space, phone lines, printer cartridges, accounting services, design and print etc, then we would like to hear from you. The target is to have 100% of the operational costs covered in order for 100% of the donations to go where they are needed.
Please note that Tracy secures goods needed for the children - particularly clothing - direct from manufacturers.
Corporate Sponsorship
We always need corporate sponsors and believe that your employees will feel good about your company's involvement with the Foundation (many of our current sponsors have commented on how rewarding it is to see the children who have benefited from help, grow and develop).
Please contact Tracy she will be very pleased to hear from you :
Mobile : 08-47785476
e-mail : travelswithmum@aol.co.uk
The Melissa Cosgrove Children's Foundation website with information and images
Our Flickr website with many images
Your kindness and generousity will give you as much pleasure as the children you help, believe me...
Do not put off to tomorrow,
what you can do today
