OzCots trip to South Africa - January 2008

Cotlands singing Angels

2008-02-06T07:38:00.000-08:00

Today we were able to see first hand the amazing talent of some of the Cotlands staff. At midday, they gathered around and sang a few Gospel songs. Depsina had goose bumps when they started to sing and of course Angela was there to capture the experience.

Cotlands Community Centre in Soweto

2008-02-05T06:48:00.000-08:00

As part of our program, we visited the Gogo's (Grannies) and mothers at the Cotlands Community Centre in Soweto. This was our second visit to the Community Centre, but the first time we spent time with the women and children.

There were many volunteers that helped with the various tasks with Paris and Paula helping to pack the food parcels that are given to the women once a week. Despina and Angela tried their hands at knitting aiming to impress their mothers back home...

Apart from knitting, these talented women were making beaded badges, pyjamas for children and adults and place mats with various designs.

All these women had facinating stories to tell and an amazing ability to pick up new skills and share their knowledge with the other women and volunteers.

Our introduction to Cotlands and South Africa

2008-02-03T22:58:00.000-08:00

We arrived in Johannesburg on Monday morning. We made our way to Cotlands, had a brief familiarisation tour and settled into our accommodation at Cotlands House - just down the road - where we attempted to get over our jetlag!!!

The following day we stocked up on food and personal supplies in the morning and received a briefing from the staff in the afternoon.

We've since spent time helping around at Cotlands in various areas. Angela has been diligently videoing our every move, Paula has been enjoying playing with the children in the baby sanctuary, Paris has been taking photos and Despina has been busy liaising with the Australian High Commission in relation to the function they have invited us to on Thursday and the AFL game on Saturday - both in Pretoria.

The function at the High Commission was great on so many levels. It was great to meet so many Australians in South Africa who are really making a difference and so many South Africans with strong links to Australia. Despina, not one to miss a networking opportunity, fluttered about like the social butterfly she is! Again, Angela was there at the ready to video our every move.

The High Commissioner was very kind with his praise for the work Cotlands does for so many disadvanted children and their families throughout South Africa. He made specific mention of the great work OzCots has been doing and their contribution to Cotlands - both financially as well as the time the volunteers from Australia have been giving and awareness they have been raising within the community upon their return to Australia.

Although we've probably made it sound as though the function at the High Commission was solely for us, it was actually for the AFL football teams, Fremantle and Carlton, who were visiting South Africa for a demonstration game. The visit by Fremantle to Cotlands on the Thursday prior to the function filled the children with much excitement. They were very generous with their time and presented Cotlands with a cheque for $A1000 upon their departure.

We we invited to the "big game" on Saturday. The children had a prominent role during the game in that they helped form the guard of honour for the players when they came on to the field at the start of the game. They were so exited! At the end of the game the children presented the players with beaded necklaces. The players were great and interacted with the children beautifully. They raised the children upon their shoulders while an African choir sang into the night.... it was very moving and the children couldn't believe how "tall" they felt on everyone's shoulders.... they were still beaming the next morning!!

The count down is on!!

2008-01-23T02:37:00.000-08:00

That's right - the countdown is down to 5 more sleeps until the Canberra contigency leave Sydney bound for Johannesburg, South Africa!

The Queensland representative has 6 more sleeps until she jet sets to Johannesburg!!