Page 37 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 8_2022

Cotlands believes that robust ECD learning programmes are vital to building

South Africa’s leaders and a skilled workforce for the future.

t first, when I heard about the
activities that CotlandsIgnite™
promotes, I was a little
Aconfused. Cotlands, from my
understanding, used to be a sanctuary for
unwanted and abandoned babies and
unmarried pregnant mothers. Having
since done the research, I realise that
I’m more than a few years behind the
times! Cotlands stopped admissions to
its children’s sanctuaries and HIV/AIDS
hospices in 2011 and these units were
closed in 2015.
The motivation behind the organisation’s
transition makes a lot of sense – their
experiences over the years showed
that the costs of caring for children in
dedicated facilities was approximately
ten times higher than providing support
for children within the context of their
own communities. Putting costs aside,
they also concluded that ‘institutionalised’
children are more likely to experience Early Childhood Development through is imperative to fostering future leaders
developmental barriers and that their the CotlandsIgnite™ platform, which and professionals.”
emotional, intellectual and social needs is an online learning facility. They also
were often not adequately met when they offer a SETA-accredited New Venture HOW CAN YOU HELP?
were isolated from society. Creation course, to qualify entrepreneurs Part of the CotlandsIgnite™ programme
wanting to specialise in toy librarianship. is to seek sponsorships and learnerships
However, the legacy left behind by The course equips the participants with for underprivileged applicants. Sponsors
the Cotlands founder, the late Matron additional business skills and prepares could either be companies or individuals,
Dorothy Reece, remains at the core of them to set up toy libraries in their so if you would like to play a part in
what Cotlands is all about today – caring communities, as well as manage and improving the future of our workforce, be
for children. (Back in 1936, before the market their play-based early learning sure to visit their website to find out more.
Second World War, Mrs Reece found an programmes.
BY AMANDA PILLAI abandoned baby on her doorstep at her VOLUNTEERING
home in Mayfair, Johannesburg. This Designed by leading experts, Volunteers are also welcome. Donating
sparked the establishment of a home for CotlandsIgnite™ is the result of Cotlands’ your time could involve sorting and
abandoned babies – which gave rise to 86 years of experience in nurturing categorising toys for the toy libraries,
the name ‘Cotlands’). young children, and in particular, their organising fund-raising events or
focus on early childhood development assisting with admin and marketing. If you
THE SWITCH TO AN in the last 10 years. would like to volunteer, download their
EDUCATIONAL FOCUS Volunteer Application Form from their
In 1999, the Board of Directors of CEO of Cotlands, Dr Monica Stach, website, complete it and return it to:
Cotlands concluded that, in order to comments, “Children develop 50% of info@cotlands.org and copy in the
remain relevant within the context of our their lifetime’s learning capacity before Gauteng co-ordinator, Boitumelo Seabi
changed society, the organisation had to the age of 7, but more than a million at: boitumelo@cotlands.org. They will
be radically transformed. Switching their children between 3 and 5 years old then contact you to discuss your area of
focus to Early Childhood Development don’t have access to early learning interest in making a contribution to this
[ECD] and training of the education programmes. South Africa needs at programme.
practitioners, Cotlands has now become least 350 000 practitioners to meet our
an accredited training provider, offering growing needs. Developing a nationwide To find out more, please visit:
the Level 4 Occupational Certificate in focus on empowering the ECD workforce www.cotlands.org/cotlandsignite and

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