Founded in 1936, Cotlands was originally created as a care centre for unwed mothers and their infants, and over the years has evolved into an organisation offering shelter for abused, abandoned, HIV-positive, orphaned and terminally ill children from birth to twelve years of age, as well as community based services to vulnerable children in five provinces of South Africa.

Pikanini supports Cotlands through consulting, research, developing of training material as well as providing opportunities for children and staff to benefit from the courses Pikanini offers.

Karen van Zyl serves as a Board Member of Cotlands and is currently the Chairperson of the Child Development and Research Committee.

Cotlands is a long-serving South African 'non-profit' agency that continues to meet the ever-changing needs of children impacted by HIV/AIDS in our country.

South Africa has been identified as the country with the greatest number of HIV/AIDS-infected people in the world. Recent reports reveal that more than five million South Africans are currently living with the impact of HIV/AIDS, while some of Cotlands’ programme focus areas (e.g. Cotlands'  Hlabisa Home Base Care project) have estimated infection rates of more than 40% of the total population.

While this information is not new, the impact of these figures is becoming clearer to our communities, our government and the global community in which we live.

'AIDS orphans'  (children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS related death of their parents), 'child-headed households' (homes managed by elder siblings often as young as 11) and similar terms are now commonplace in South Africa, yet support for these individuals is still lagging behind growing awareness of the challenges we face.

You can also support Cotlands. Feel free to contact them directly to find out how / where you can assist them. You can reach Cotlands on +27 11 683 7200.