Where Do We Work?

KTF Program areas

The Kokoda Track Foundation works in the communities living along the Kokoda Track as well as a number of communities in the broader catchment area. We provide our education, health, and community development programs to all communities along the Track including Naoro 1, Menari, Efogi, Kagi, Naduri, Alola, Isurava, Hoi, Kovello, and Kokoda, as well as communities in the immediate catchment area of the Track including Naoro 2, Edevu, Madilogo, Kebara, and Gorari.

As well as these immediate catchment areas, we support schools and communities that are situated further afield in the Central and Northern Provinces. Our secondary schools stretch as far south of the Track as Port Moresby and as far north of the Track as Buna. Our seed nurseries are situated in three locations in the Northern Province – Martyrs, Dobodura, and Ilimo – and reach villages throughout the entire Province who were affected by Cyclone Guba.

As the Foundation grows, we are continually expanding the reach of our education, health, and community development programs as we strive to assist the descendents of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels of Papua New Guinea.

The need in PNG

Approximately 40% of Papua New Guinea’s population is below the poverty line. In 2009, PNG is ranked 145th on the United Nation’s Human Development Index – the lowest of all Pacific Nations with only African nations falling beneath PNG. When looking at statistics for PNG’s unemployment rate, the words ‘Not Applicable’ almost always appear. There is no welfare system operating in PNG and its’ economy has continued to decline over the years. Although Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, exploitation is difficult and often impossible because of its rugged terrain, inaccessibility and the high cost of developing infrastructure. On top of this PNG has to deal with high population growth, weak governance capacity and a disturbing increase in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS.

Australia’s estimated aid budget for Papua New Guinea for the years 2008-2009 is $389.4 million. Since Independence in 1975, there have been significant improvements in social indicators in PNG, for example life expectancy has risen, infant mortality has decreased and the number of children attending school has doubled in the past 10 years. However, PNG still performs poorly compared to Asian and Pacific neighbours in many of these social indicators. Less than 2% of children who begin Grade 1 in PNG will go on to complete Grade 12 and only 1 in 25 Grade 12 graduates in PNG will actually go on to gain paid employment.

The Kokoda Track Foundation aims to extend Australia’s support to the people living along the infamous Kokoda Track – one of Australia’s most significant wartime regions. It aims to provide support to the villages in the areas of health, education and sporting. It also aims to work with the people and various authorities to develop a self-sustaining eco-adventure trekking industry for the Koiari and Orokaivean people who live along the Kokoda Track.

Content © The Kokoda Track Foundation 2009   |   Email : gen.nelson@kokodatrackfoundation.org for more information