Harry on KCYP’s impact to his life

Kokoda Challenge Youth Program

Flashback to day five of the 2021 Kokoda Challenge Youth Program peak experience trek! We pulled Kokoda Kid Harry aside at our campsite at Jubilee Creek in Stannary Hills to ask him what he thought of the donkey trek and the entire program so far:

What has your Kokoda Challenge Youth Program experience been like?

Harry: My experience so far, I’ve made friends with a lot of people. This entire program has been very much life-changing I would say and it has given me new perspectives on what is important.

What have you gained from the Kokoda Challenge Youth Program?

Harry: Actually caring about what I want to do in the future. Like actually care about that and I appreciate the things that I have because I know that they can swiftly be taken away. And a lot of people won’t have those things and won’t have the opportunities that I have so I think I’m very thankful and understand that I’m thankful for the things that I have.

What has been the highlight of the Kokoda Challenge Youth Program?

Harry: it would probably be the leaders and Steve in general [a KCYP leader]. He’s really taught me a lot of times through this program and really changed my mind on a lot of things. All the people that are here and surround this program are all fantastic people and I think it’s a very good place to be.

What would you say to anyone thinking of applying for the Kokoda Challenge Youth Program?

Harry: Join! Just do it! I did it, I looked at it and I was just like you know, I’m just going to do it, I signed up online, I did it immediately and it’s been the best thing I’ve done so far in my life, definitely. It’s been a fantastic experience and I never thought I would even travel on a plane again at my age. All the things that are good about this program really add up and make it worth everything.

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. Our experiential youth programs help struggling 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. These values take their origin from Australian soldiers who fought the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea during WWII.

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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.

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