OUR VISION
The Geelong Kokoda Youth Program engages young people from every state secondary and many of the private secondary schools in the Geelong region, and we help them work through the challenges they are facing in their lives.
The young people selected for Geelong Kokoda Youth Program may have a disconnection from their education or facing other challenges that may include mental health struggles, homelessness, drug/alcohol dependencies, anti-social behaviour, family issues, amongst others.
Up to 24 at-risk young people are selected to undertake this intensive year long program which involves personal development, fitness, health, diet and most important role modelling with stable and genuine support.
The young people participate in 20 weeks of physical training along with program mentors from local business and government organisations to at the end walk the 96km Kokoda Trek in Papua New Guinea.
The trek also educates the students about the campaign in which the Australian soldiers partook during World War II, motivated by the Kokoda pillars – Courage, Endurance, Mateship, Sacrifice.
OUR HISTORY
The Geelong Kokoda Youth Program concept begun in 2012 and officially started in 2013. The first year saw the program commence with the first 10 students. So far 150 young people have completed the program in the 12 years since its conception.
The program commences in February of every year and whilst the formalities end in December after we walk the Kokoda Track there is no END DATE to the program. The young people can keep in contact with the group as long as they would like after the yearly program concludes. Very often previous young people turn up to events, training, and other occasions in order to have ongoing participation, with the last few years past students have returned and participated in the program again as mentors. Young people in the very first program still remain in contact with us – continuing the ongoing legacy.
TESTIMONIALS
