COCOA - Churches of Christ Overseas Aid

Churches of Christ Overseas Aid (COCOA) provides development aid, education and medical services for the poor, emergency relief, caring homes for vulnerable children and assists people to move from dependence to independence. By giving we share with others our abundance and God’s love and compassion.

COCOA Great Gifts

To select a COCOA Great Gift click on the COCOA Great Gift icon. There are a selection of Great Gifts to suit any price range. Each gift is part of a bigger development initiative that helps to address poverty and creates a new future for the recipients. You will receive a COCOA Great Gift card with a picture of the project and short description of what your gift supports.

Attached below are some COCOA Great Gift stories from 2011 where these gifts combined have made a world of difference. There are also newsletter inserts to advertise these gifts and a COCOA Great Gift catalogue 2011-2012 and a promotional PPT to advertise a variety of gifts.

Each gift is tax deductible and is a great idea for Christmas or any special celebration! Contact info@gmp.org.au or 08 8212 4446 if you would like a selection for a church or ministry group stall.

Donations to COCOA

Gifts to Churches of Christ Overseas Aid (COCOA) are uilised for assisting with community development or relief activities in our overseas partner settings. These donations are tax deductible and must be utilised for specific criteria.

Below is the definition and criteria that GMP use to define what can be tax deductible through COCOA.

"Development in its broadest sense means a comprehensive economic, social, cultural and political process which aims at the constant improvement of the well-being of the population and of all individuals on the basis of their active, free and meaningful participation in development and in the fair distribution of the benefits that result from this process. Development projects or activitie should aim to produce benefits that are sustainable - that is, benefits that will endure after development assistance has ceased.

Relief means the provision of basic support to people in emergency situations - for example, natural phenomena such as earthquakes or chronic disasters such as famine or conflict. Relief measures are usually temporary and are directed at providing life sustaining assistance or short-term recovery assistance aimed at putting people back on their feet. Relief is provide to groups of people, such as communities, directly affected by disaster."

Zimbabwe

Khayelihle Children's Village offers a loving home and quality education for abandoned and neglected children.

Showers of Blessing Trust—Maize Meal means that in the continuing drought and spiralling inflation there is a basic food supply that enables families to survive.

Showers of Blessing Trust—Wells provide a consistent, clean water supply for household use and vegetable gardens. 

India

Ashwood Memorial Hospital grants skilled treatment for many who cannot afford the full cost of medical care. It specializes in diabetic care, obstetrics and HIV/AIDS support.

Ankoor Home affords the opportunity for tribal children to receive a good education.

Reaching Hands Society works among the tribal people of Orissa providing medical care and community education. 

Vanuatu

Schools at Ranwadi, Londua and Isla presents the opportunity for more Ni-Vanuatu children to access an education. COCOA’s support also assists with staff salaries.

Papua New Guinea

The Literacy Programme offers education for local children and adults who have very limited access to schooling.

Community Development builds capacity into local communities and assists with vital airstrip maintenance.

Vietnam

Quality Housing means improved standards of living, especially sanitation, for minority villagers.

Wells supply a community with clean water for personal use and vegetable gardens.

Bright Solutions offers vocational training and employment opportunities especially empowering women.

Sudan

Marialbai Mission cares for 240 children who have lost both parents. The feeding centre provides a basic daily meal. The plan is to open a school in 2011.

Thailand

Church of Christ in Thailand Community Centre makes education and care available for children in the slums of Klong Toey.

Urban Neighbours of Hope members work in Klong Toey with young people, families and children at risk.

Beulah Land Services trains and supports people living with leprosy.

Thai Burma Border Consortium provides food, shelter and care for Karen refugees.

Other Partners

COSMOS HealthCare assists with medical care and emergency relief in developing countries.

Kokstad Community Centre provides food, education and improved health for the poor in Kokstad, South Africa.

Bacolod Medical Centre makes available medical services in the Philippines.

Emergency Relief

COCOA launches Emergency appeals from time to time according to particular needs. In recent years they have included the Pakistan and Japan Tsunami appeals. Funds from these appeals were sent to provide aid to rebuild homes and give medical and food assistance. Currently emergency relief is being directed to the Horn of Africa where millions of people are being affected by the drought and food shortages. See the attachment below for further information.

Community Education

COCOA is committed to an ongoing process of awareness raising, education and building understanding of the needs and situation of COCOA’s partners.

Local Costs

Administration, programme monitoring, and publicity provide the framework to enable GMP to raise support, send aid, receipt and inform partners of the COCOA program. It is important (and a requirement) to have staff monitor the quality of COCOA projects.

Some Current Projects

India: Ashwood Hospital

• Medical equipment for the Integrated Diabetic Care Centre.

Zimbabwe

• Drilling wells and installing hand pumps.
• Food relief – maize meal for rural communities affected by drought and isolation.

Vanuatu

• Support for teachers’ aids and school staff at Ranwadi and Londua High Schools and Tanna Primary School.
• Reconstructing Londua Training College.

Vietnam

• Housing and water security for minority families resettled in Binh Phuoc province.
• Sale of Baby Cloth books supports Bright Solutions employment for women.

Sudan

     Marialbai Mission supporting 240 orphans.

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