His mum Maria Cantali watched when artist Eva Rinaldi painted a water melon on the body of Lui, 2, for the World Vision's 2009 calendar last week.

She said that she is proud her son had played a part in this worthy cause.

Ms Rinaldi and her team body painted a dozen children aged from two to 10 years.

Her spokeswoman said the themes were food, water, education, school, playtime and vegetation.

The calendar is for sale for $17 at all newsagencies across the country from October.

``All funds raised from the project will go to World Vision, the spokeswoman said. ``The painting of the children will be shown on the Disney Channel early next month.''

She said Ms Rinaldi wanted help raise awareness of children living in poverty.

``Eva said it was great fun to work with kids but that one needed to be very patient. I got the kids for her through local schools and by asking friends with young children to help.''

Ms Rinaldi has been a body painting artist for five years and has won many awards.

She won People's Choice Award for the Chalk The Walk awards with her piece called Mother Earth in 2006.

``It was the birth of her son that first led her to face painting at children's birthday parties. Being a single mother she knows it's hard to raise children and she wants to use her talent to help poor children of the world.''

A World Vision spokeswoman said that although they didn't commission the calendar it would welcome any assistance from the community in raising funds for them.