Microbusiness

Kokoda Track Livelihood's Study

In 2009, the Foundation conducted an in-depth feasibility study on microbusiness opportunities for the communities along the Kokoda Track on behalf of the Australian Government. We ran workshops in 10 communities along the Kokoda Track and locals expressed much enthusiasm in setting up agriculture and food related microbusinesses. Villagers are keen to be able to produce meals and snacks for trekkers and the Foundation is now assisting local women's groups with cooking classes and small business workshops. As the Government continue their efforts in PNG, the Kokoda Track Foundation is now looking at ways to partner with local communities that will assist them to establish microbusinesses in their home communities that will provide an income from the large number of tourists who cross the Track each year.

Cooking Classes

cooking classesVillagers along the Kokoda Track are extremely interested in setting up businesses particularly around providing food to trekkers in order to earn an income during the trekking season. In 2009, the Foundation engaged volunteers to help us conduct a series of cooking workshops with women leaders in each of the villages along the Kokoda Track. The recipes involved a combination of local ingredients and staples flown in from Port Morebsy and included fresh corn and chilli fritters, pumpkin and sweet potato soup, banana and coconut bread, and lemon and lime pikelets.

The Foundation will continue to run cooking classes with women's groups along the Kokoda Track in 2010.

Workshops & Pilot Microbusinesses

The Foundation also runs small business workshops in villages along the Kokdoa Track, building the capacity of local groups that are trying to earn an income from the trekking industry. Business topics include marketing and advertising, setting profit margins, basic accounting and auditing, reinvesting profits into the business, and other specific food-related skills such as the preparation of fresh, nutritious food.

In 2010, we will continue building the capacity of businesses along the Kokoda Track by running workshops and cooking classes. We will also partner with trek operators and communities on a number of pilot microbusinesses that are related to agriculture and food production.

Watch this space for more details about our 2010 microbusiness projects...