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Our Past Programs in Kowanyama

For many years, we have worked with the Kowanyama community through various programs aimed at empowering youth, improving education, and fostering leadership. These programs were entirely volunteer-run and unfunded, relying on the generosity and dedication of our team. While we no longer run many of these initiatives, we are proud of the lasting impact they have had on many young people and continue to have a connection with this community through other projects.

Leadership Development & Youth Mentoring

Many Kowanyama youth leave their community for boarding school in Grade 7, facing significant challenges as they transition to a new environment. Our volunteers, many with deep connections to the community, provided mentorship and support to help these students stay engaged in school and avoid dropping out.

Our activities included:

• Weekend outings where students could reconnect with friends and family from Kowanyama.
• Academic support through homework help and assignment guidance.
• Emotional and practical support, including referrals to counselling services.

We also ran a Leadership Camp from 2009 to 2020 for Grade 6 and 7 students preparing for boarding school. These camps focused on leadership, resilience, and personal growth. Many past attendees later became youth mentors, demonstrating the long-term benefits of this program.

Boarding Support Weekends & Primary Boarding

To further support Kowanyama youth in boarding schools, we ran Boarding Support Weekends, offering activities and mentorship to help students navigate their teenage years away from home. These weekends provided a safe space for students to discuss challenges, take a break from boarding life, and access extra academic support.

Recognising the difficulties of transitioning to boarding school, we also ran a Primary Boarding program, launched by Ron and Lara in 2006 and later integrated into our charity’s work. Selected primary-aged boys who demonstrated strong attendance and behaviour at school were hosted in a supportive home environment, receiving:

• One-on-one homework assistance.
• School supplies, uniforms, and flights home.
• A family-like setting with mentoring and cultural connection.

By 2025, the last two boys in this program are continuing through high school. One has since received a scholarship at a leading Brisbane school, and the other, now in Grade 10, is thriving in his “second home” environment with Ron and Lara and will hopefully receive their support through to completion.

COLBI – Conduct Linked Boarding Incentive

In response to changes in government support to parents of senior students many years ago, we established the COLBI Scholarship, which helped remote students stay in school despite financial hardships. Through generous donations from a private donor and supporters like Queensland X-Ray and AMAQ Foundation, COLBI provided:

• Textbooks and uniforms.
• A small weekly stipend, conditional on school effort and behaviour.

This initiative made a real difference in preventing school dropouts. As of 2019, nearly all recipients had completed their education and moved into meaningful employment or further study.

KidZone – Holiday Programs

From 2004 onwards, we ran KidZone, providing holiday programs for Kowanyama children. Initially filling a gap in community services, KidZone offered  week long programs and activities up to 8 times a year such as:

• Sports, crafts, and storytelling.
• Education and health promotion.
• Community events like BBQs and concerts.

While the need for structured holiday programs lessened over time, we continued to offer unique and meaningful activities twice a year. Our work for some of this time was supported by a small grant from DETA, covering transport and materials, while volunteers provided all staffing.

Support for School Learning Centre & After-School Tuition

In partnership with Kowanyama State School, we supported an After-School Tuition Centre (established in 2013) that provided:

• Literacy and numeracy support.
• Nutritious snacks.
• Learning resources such as books and computers.

Although we had to decline the government grant supporting our holiday programs due to administrative challenges, we continued assisting the school through book donations, educational tools, and incentives to encourage attendance and academic achievement.

Past Community Garden Activities

One of our founding members, Lara, was a medical doctor in Kowanyama, and she and her husband, Ron, both passionate and experienced gardeners, saw the need to promote better nutrition in the community. Recognising the link between poor diet and preventable diseases in remote communities, they worked with the Kowanyama Lands Office and the local council to establish a Community Demonstration Vegetable Garden. This initiative encouraged residents to grow highly nutritious and easy-to-cultivate vegetables suitable for the extreme wet/dry tropical climate.

Built with locally sourced and repurposed materials, the garden became a thriving hub where volunteers and local kids contributed to its development. The garden housed an impressive variety of vegetables, including Asian and Papua New Guinean species, providing both a place for hands-on learning and a resource for distributing cuttings and seeds throughout the community. Over the years, it has supported various educational and health-related activities such as:

• Gardening demonstrations for both children and adults.
• Cooking classes where school groups could pick and prepare fresh vegetables.
• Bush cooking workshops, in collaboration with local tribal groups, to incorporate healthier ingredients.

A small grant in 2012 enabled the expansion of the garden, adding raised beds and an automated irrigation system. The project also provided an engaging way for local kids to participate in community-building efforts, fostering a sense of ownership and pride. The garden has been a resource for numerous community initiatives, including the establishment of an edible garden at the Women’s Shelter and the expansion of seating areas to facilitate gatherings and educational sessions.

For years, the garden was a welcoming space where locals could stop by, collect cuttings and seeds, receive gardening advice, or simply relax in a peaceful environment. Many special conversations, mentoring moments, and community counselling sessions took place there, making it a cornerstone of both physical and emotional well-being in Kowanyama.

A Legacy of Support & Moving Forward

Although these programs have concluded, we remain deeply committed to supporting Indigenous communities. Our current efforts are focused on other initiatives, including our work in Ukraine.

However, we do continue to support Kowanyama through various projects, and you can learn more about our current projects HERE.