Welcome to Ozcots.org.au

Leadership Programs and Opportunities

2009

The 2009 OzCots Leadership Program is shaping up and the partiicipant are buzzing with excitment and can't wait for their visit to Cotlands.

2008

There was a group of volunteers who spent time at Cotlands in January 2008. There is a waiting list for volunteers wanting to spend time at Cotlands in 2009.

The January 08 group managed to obtain $11,250 from the Mr Philip Green, Australian High Commissioner in Pretoria to ensure the Cotlands children had access to a tailored tutorial to ensure the orphans are able to obtain an education that will help them grow into successful adults.

The AFL Fremantle Dockers spent time at Cotlands. They kindly donated approximately $10,000 towards this education program.

2007

There were two exciting leadership initiatives that took place in 2007; both has 7 young people who went to Cotlands in April and November 2007.

These leadership opportunities will benefit not only the children at Cotlands in South Africa but the local community of Canberra and districts. This is being made available through OzCots.

These are amazing opportunities where a small group of committed Australians can go to South Africa to spend time volunteering at Cotlands. Cotlands Baby Sanctuary supports children who are abandoned, abused, neglected and AIDS orphans.

Upon return to Australia, these groups would make a commitment to raising awareness for Cotlands through a number of speaking engagements to educational institutions, businesses and community organisations. They would also commit to raising money for Cotlands through fundraising events.

This trip would involve a combination of volunteering at Cotlands and travelling to see how a selection of the other community projects work with Cotlands. There will be the opportunity to work with other government and non-government organisations for capacity building in maternal and child health, leadership skills and increased knowledge related to sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS.

Funds raised for Soweto Grannies Group

As a follow up to the April trip, one of the volunteers has successfully managed to raise $50,000. What an awesome effort:)

These funds will ensure the Gogo's (grannies) group in Soweto will have funding for 3 years. This means that 75 grannies (and their families) will be provided with food parcels ie perishables and non-perishables and have thier income generation program available to them. What a great effort.

Through the establishment of OzCots, Cotlands has had 20 volunteers from Australia whose lives have been enriched through the experiences they have encountered.

HIV/AIDS in South Africa

It is estimated that by the year 2015 one in four babies will be born with HIV in South Africa. One in 2 babies will be affected by HIV. It is evident that sub Saharan and in particular, South Africa is ravaged by HIV/AIDS.

Currently, there are nearly 6.4 million people who are infected with the HIV virus.

Recent estimates indicate that the country has almost 500,000 AIDS orphans and that by 2008, this number is expected to rise to 1.6 million children (CDC website). This is equates to more than the total population of Canberra.

Cotlands is community-based organisation that operates and manages orphanages, hospices, HIV/AIDS education programs and home based care programs that support children and the families of children living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa. OzCots is an Australian organization that aims to raise both funds and awareness of Cotlands and its programs and the many children they assist.

Expressions of interest are being sought. More information can be obtained from Despina Voudouris. Contact details are provided in the PDF document below.

Expression of interest form