What makes the KCYP unique?

Written by Lisa Wilson, Gold Coast Youth Leader

In this era of 'quick fixes' and 'fast tracking', is it  any wonder our youth are expecting to jump before they can walk and are left scratching their heads questioning why they land so hard and awkwardly?

The KCYP recognises that success in reaching goals requires more than just a few weeks, which is why the program is 14 months in duration. This practical time frame ensures a solid grounding in the skills required to achieve their goals and continue their lives with stability and confidence.

Think about the so-called 'social networking' available to our youth of today. With one double-click you can choose a friend, gain a friend or lose a friend and all without any genuine interaction on any substantial level.

The KCYP participants- fondly known as 'Kokoda Kids' - are a medley of the broader community, just as our legendary Kokoda Diggers were. Teamed together, the Kokoda Kids have a common thread - that each individual has the desire but is at a crossroad in identifying the pathway to reaching their true and full potential. Under these social circumstances and amid the physical and spiritual challenges that lie ahead throughout the program and indeed life, the KCYP fosters the value and spirit of true mateship and tolerance.

The heart and soul of this unique program is its fundamental philosophy of integrity. The KCYP strips life back to the basics for our youth who are inundated by the colours, special-effects and complexity of modern society. KCYP offers our youth clear boundaries, structure, discipline, leadership and good old-fashioned values which in turn empowers them to add colour to their world through the real life experiences on offer including the peak experience of travelling to Papua New Guinea to walk in the footsteps of Australia's heroes on the original Kokoda Trail.

The fundraising by teams in the annual Kokoda Challenge on the Gold Coast each July combined with volunteers and generosity from the community is what makes this program a success- this sincerity of conviction is a solid motivation for the Kokoda Kids to continue reaching for the stars.

Young people leave this program with the knowledge that what they accomplish in all aspects of their lives is categorically equivalent to the effort they put into it and having the courage to believe it's really that simple.