Social Justice Tour 2010: walk the Kokoda Trail

Early expressions of interests are called from socially minded people willing to walk the Kokoda Track. The tour aim is to assist PNG Villagers along the track with their chosen community development projects AND experience social service at an International level.

Imagine 8 nights (no dates yet booked) spent in the jungle where our armed forces and the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels (National Papuans) held back the Japanese and stopped armed combat coming to Australia. Our eternal thanks go to the National people of Papua New Guinea who supported, protected and fed our service personnel.

Papua New Guinea is the country of my birth and happily spent childhood. My commitment to her people is solid and I invite you to develop some international community development experience by becoming involved in a social justice trek along one of the most famous and geographically fascinating trails of World War II.

For a very low AU$2750.00 (minimum 8 people) this specially designed social justice tour of 97 kilometres includes:

• Airfare Cairns – Port Moresby – Cairns
• Airfare Kokoda – Port Moresby
• Accommodation for 8 nights on track’s various locations in village’s huts, tents, bush camps or guesthouses
• Transport from Port Moresby to Owers Corner via Bomana War Cemetery
• Breakfasts & dinners during the track (exclude some fresh fruits & veggies supplied by villagers) plus cooked evening meal & breakfast at David Soro guesthouse at Kokoda
• Cooking equipment (“Dixie”) – if required
• 1 or 2 persons tent, Porter’s Backpacks
• Experienced local tour guide
• Porters for group’s camping and cooking equipment (personal porter optional)
• Airport and flights taxes
• Kokoda Trail trek permit fee
• Two way radio and a satellites phone

Optional extras:

• personal porter- (please advise about it in booking form and add AU$500.00 to above price)
• visits to War Museums along the track
• trek snacks
• walking stick. can be provided for $25 each & head torches for $15 each.

Five hundred Kina (local currency) from each paid trip goes directly to villages on the Trail and develops resources dictated by local need. Currently, running water (pumps. pipes, taps, etc) are the chosen community development need and your paid trek leaves behind a footprint in a shower. In addition to this, the social justice tour will also contribute a group gift. The group gift is decided once expressions of interest are logged.  The group gift may take the form of fund raised cash, blankets, books, clothes, what ever the group decides upon in consultation with local village elders.

The Social Justice tour is organised by Megan Bayliss (BSW, Dip SOC,  MAASW) and the tour is led by an old friend of mine, Merv Hains of Kokoda Track Experience. The trek is for fit people of any age. I am not fit but as of today, I am in training

Do good. Do Kokoda.

Express your interest by contacting Megan Bayliss or by leaving a comment below.