Our Latest Stories
- September 6, 2017
International conference comes to Durban
Umduduzi is delighted to be a partner in the 3rd International ICPCN Conference set to take place from 30 May to 2 June 2018 in Durban. Building on the success of their two previous conferences held in Mumbai in 2014 and Buenos Aires in 2016, the International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) will be holding
0 - September 6, 2017
Wear a hat for children needing palliative care
The International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) has chosen Friday 13 October 2017 to be a day for raising funds and international awareness of the work of children’s hospices and children’s palliative care (CPC) services worldwide. The campaign is called Hats On 4 CPC and #HatsOn4CPC on Social media. The day raises funds for children’s palliative care,
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She also saw the need for knowledge and training in this field and undertook and successfully completed the Level 1, 2 and 3 Early Childhood Development Training provided through Embury College. She met a wonderful Preschool Teacher with many years’ experience who has mentored and encouraged her.
She runs the Play and Stimulation Programme implemented by Umduduzi at the King Dinuzulu Hospital with dedication and commitment.

From 2008 to 2012, as project manager, she opened the Durban Branch of the Bigshoes Foundation and has cultivated an interest in paediatric palliative care. She has been involved in teaching and training doctors, nurses and social workers in paediatric palliative care and designed course work material for the purpose as well as provides direct services to children and their families.
In January 2013 she co-founded Umduduzi – Hospice Care for Children, an NPO set up to continue the work of Bigshoes in KZN.

Julia is a sessional lecturer for the Department of Paediatrics UKZN and lectures on palliative care for 4th, 5th and 6th year students. She has been involved in teaching and training doctors, nurses and social workers in paediatric palliative care and designed course work material for the purpose as well as provides direct services to children and their families.
In January 2013 she co-founded Umduduzi – Hospice Care for Children, an NPO set up to continue the work of Bigshoes in KZN.


Umduduzi was founded in December 2012 by Dr Julia Ambler & Ms Tracey Brand. Both had been providing children’s palliative care services to the State sector within KwaZulu-Natal between 2008 and 2012 through their work with The Bigshoes Foundation’s Durban office. Unfortunately The Bigshoes Foundation was dissolved nationally and Julia & Tracey felt it was imperative to continue the work that had been started.
Together with a team of committed Board Members Umduduzi was founded. The work that began will continue and children living with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses will have the opportunity to be cared for by a dedicated team of specialists.
“No one has ever become poor by giving.”