COMMEMORATE THE 100th anniversary of legacy australia
REMEMBRANCE DAY 2023
KOKODA LEGACY IS BACK
17+ Years Helping
Aussie Kids
Changing Lives In
Our Local Community
Keeping the Spirit of
Kokoda Alive
About
Kokoda Youth Foundation
The Kokoda Youth Foundation is a locally operated charity that has proudly supported Australian young people by inspiring them to do extraordinary things for more than 17 years.Â
Our experiential youth programs help young people gain physical and mental resilience, confidence, and instill in them the values of Courage, Endurance, Mateship and Sacrifice through the story of the Kokoda Campaign in 1942. These values take their origin from Australian soldiers who fought the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea during WWII.
Still relevant today, it is our central mission to reignite these timeless values into our communities.
Each of our youth programs encourage our ‘Kokoda Kids’ to become active members in their local community and educates them on the Indigenous culture and history of Australia, always keeping the respect for the contributions of our diggers at the forefront. We challenge the kids’ deeply held beliefs, allow their limits and abilities to be explored, and provide opportunities for growth.
The Kokoda Youth Foundation receives no government funding and relies solely on donations and sponsorship from generous Australians, just like you. This may be through participating in our fundraising Kokoda Challenge hiking events, giving one off donations to our Foundation, or attending one of our Kokoda Outdoor Education facilities.
Everything we do is for the good of the kids and we would love for you to join us in making a difference in young lives through the Spirit of Kokoda.
On the Right Track
On the Right Track
On The Right Track is a six month, regional school-based program for students in Grades 8 and 9 who are losing interest in their ongoing education and at risk of exiting the schooling system.
The program operates one day a week and combines three months of physical training for the 48km Kokoda Challenge event, and to promote self discipline and tolerance, whilst challenging them to break through their pre-set beliefs and personal limits.
This is followed by three months of community service providing students with the opportunity to make a difference in their local area through positive contributions and connections.
Kokoda Pathways
Kokoda Pathways
This 17 week program assists senior students who feel they are at a crossroads with their education and future employment. Often they may be at risk of disengaging from school or family life, or experiencing a lack of direction and motivation.
The students will be mentored in the skills needed for workplace readiness in a range of careers, while also learning a range of social and personal development skills through adventure-based learning and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).
KCYP
Kokoda Challenge Youth Program
Aimed at 15-17 year olds, this nine month life skills program is for teens from all walks of life. It is built around our core values of Courage, Endurance, Mateship and Sacrifice, while being focused on training for a peak experience, which traditionally has been hiking the real Kokoda track in Papua New Guinea.
Throughout the program, kids are challenged and mentored through weekly endurance hikes and volunteer community service to learn the skills that build personal strength and resilience to help overcome adversity and succeed.
Digital Detox
Digital Detox
Our Digital Detox program gives the opportunity for kids to totally disconnect from technology and become more conscious of their relationship with technology.
Starting in 2022, and run onsite at our outdoor education facility Kokoda Park, this is a 9 day camp program for teens who are showing signs of digital dependence.
Through a series of adventure-based activities and educational workshops, the kids will be given the opportunity to disconnect, evaluate their well-being and create healthy new habits and boundaries in order to thrive in a digital world.
Your Generous Donations Go Straight Towards
Learning about
indigenous culture
Partnering with your
local community organisations
Building more resilient and
confident young people
Helping us develop
new youth programs
Creating more opportunities
through school education
Changing attitudes
through trekking adventures
Providing a once in
a lifetime peak experience
Engaging kids in
their local community
Our Partners
How We Help
Success Stories
Over the last 17 years, the Kokoda Youth Foundation has proudly supported more than 621 teenagers through our locally run youth programs. We have seen huge life transformations, not just in the form of physical fitness but in the kids’ mental health, community contributions, sense of purpose, and social connections.
Here we proudly share some of their incredible journeys.
As Featured In
SEE OUR RECENT SUCCESS STORIES
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Our People
The Kokoda Youth Foundation is a locally operated charity that has proudly supported Australian young people and their local communities for more than 17 years. Our experiential youth programs help young people gain physical and mental resilience, confidence, and instill in them Courage, Endurance, Mateship and Sacrifice through the story of the Kokoda Campaign in 1942. These programs are run solely from donations from generous Australians, just like you.
