Walking across Kazanlak's neat square, Mark O'Sullivan looks like any other Bulgarian. And after four years of working and living here with his family, he speaks the language quite well. The only give away of his Irish origins from a glance is his ginger goatee.

The Maglish school/orphanage for children with hearing impairments is one of the many places that The Cedar Foundation, a brainchild of the Irishman works.The bright yellow and blue curtains in the children's common room now replace the torn net curtains of before, the walls are now sunny yellow and bright blue with murals from a local Bulgarian artist. Blue comfy sofas and new tables and chairs adorn the room. Now the children not only watch TV here, but they are also taught arts and crafts every week by volunteers from the foundation. Basketball and football are played outside in the uneven and concrete play court, but that is for a future project!

Mark created the foundation in order for it to facilitate and enable the people of Bulgaria to meet the needs of their own communities. It aims to do this by creating equal opportunities for those who have physical and mental disabilities. This is achieved by spending quality time with vulnerable young people, by carrying out renovations to where they live, work and play and by working in partnership with existing NGOs, local and national institutions.

The Cedar Foundation is a registered charity and is funded by private persons, the business sector and various other organisations. Brian Howard, Director of Bulgaria Property Investment, is arranging for the children to have some specialised treatment, and is coordinating activities in the UK together with Mark. He has linked up to form an English arm of The Cedar Foundation so that people in England can not only just read about Bulgaria's needs but can now also have the practical opportunities to do something about them. THESE CHILDREN NEED YOUR HELP in any way you can, so contact Brian on brian@bulgariaproperty-investment.co.uk tel +44 (0)7852 336 171 or Mark on info@cedarfoundation.org tel +3359 889 228 935 or go to web sitewww.cedarfoundation.org (under construction) Investors, it is time to give something back.