Project 18 & Cate Bolt

In this world of so many problems - poverty, climate change, deforestation, famine, war - it seems like nothing can be done to make it a better place to live.

Occasionally, however, one person decides that they are going to do whatever it takes to do just that. Through the marvels of Twitter & the internet I've recently come across one of these incredible people - Cate Bolt.

If you've not heard about Cate and her mission, then visit her website at www.catherinebolt.com to learn more. In brief Cate is a mother of 9, who runs a small business as well as a writer and photographer. Added to all of this she's now dedicated her life to build an orphanage and wildlife refuge.

Over 50% of Indonesians live on less than 2US$ a day. Can you do that? In fact, such low incomes force parents to put at least one of their children into an orphanage in the hope that someone will adopt them and be able to offer them a better life.

Cate's dream is to establish an orphanage on Sumatra. In the long term it will make up a village with 18 homes each with 3 bedrooms for 8 children and a house mother. She believes this is a more effective model than a large building with dormitories housing several children in one room - the kind we are more used to seeing on the news. It is hoped that the village will also contain a school, a community cetnre and a medical centre. It will be built using sustainable methods and involve solar power and rain water collection.

In addition to this huge ambition, there are also plans to include a conservation program, primarily to offer refuge for the orangutan who is suffering at the hands of palm oil. This will involve the children in the hopes that educating them and showing how important wildlife conversation is, they will take this with them into their future and help change the things that need to be done.

This is a huge dream; a major endeavour. They always say, if you want something done, give it to a busy person. I truly believe that if anyone's going to be able to fulfil this dream - it's Cate Bolt.

But, she can't do it alone. All dreams need a bit of help.

If you would like to help visit www.catherinebolt.com - donate to Project18 if you can. Every dollar really will help and make a difference to the children and orangutans of Indonesia. So, if you'd like to make a change to the world, but don't know how, then this is a simple option - help Project18 and spread the word.