Red Frogs Youth Support in the Kimberley
Hello! We are Brenton and Bek. In 2022 we set off from Brisbane in our self-converted school bus with a dream to do a lap of Australia. When we reached Kununurra WA we instantly fell in love with the Kimberley. However our hearts broke as we saw the displacement, alcohol abuse, crime and other social challenges impacting many of the Aboriginal children and youth. It saddened us further to learn that the Kimberley region now has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world.
We were so moved by what we saw and heard, that we cancelled our lap and started a Red Frogs base in Broome which is activating local volunteers to be a positive role model for local youth. Now we need your help to change the trajectory for these young people.
Red Frogs Mission
Red Frogs is a youth support network of volunteers with the vision to reduce suffering and safeguard a generation of young people; acting as a positive peer presence to empower them to make positive life choices and become a voice of change within their culture.
We're on a new mission to bring Red Frogs youth support to the Kimberley through our mentorship program called “Brave Leaps”. This structured weekly mentorship initiative will be tailored for Indigenous youth aged 10-18, and cover topics such as identity, goal setting, decision making, self-determination, self-leadership and purpose.
Our Goal in the Kimberley
To combat suicide, alcohol abuse and violence among youth in the Kimberley by establishing a trauma-informed, long‐term, collaborative approach to youth support, driven by passionate local volunteers and mentors.
By offering positive peer mentorship, educational resources, recreational activities, and a platform to express themselves, we hope to equip youth to navigate life's challenges while developing a strong understanding of their inherent value and self-worth.
Why We Need Your Help
Providing Red Frogs Mentors in the Kimberley requires a united effort.
We are looking for a minimum of 60 people to give $60 a month for the next 12 months towards 3 part-time mentors, one day a week!
These mentors will help us to activate local volunteers as well as partner with PCYC, Broome Residential College, schools and out-of-home care houses to deliver the "Brave Leaps" program on a weekly basis.
Donations will help us to achieve:
- Positive peer influence: Bringing young people together in a supportive setting consistently with the same volunteers week in and out will encourage healthy social interactions and trusting relationships.
- Strong role models: Engaging with mentors and responsible adults weekly to help guide youth towards making positive decisions about their future. Think of it like surrounding these children with a big brother or sister, or an uncle or aunty who is investing into their lives.
- Structured engagement & activities: Providing regular, enjoyable, and constructive activities prevents boredom and the risks associated with idle time.
- The power of sharing a meal: A shared meal fosters a sense of community, strengthens relationships, and ensures young people have access to nutritious food.
- A safe space to hang out: Many youth lack safe, supervised places to spend time outside school hours. This program will offer a space where they feel valued and protected.
- Long-term community impact: By investing in our youth today, we are strengthening the future of Broome by developing engaged, motivated, and confident young individuals who can contribute positively to their community.
- Raising up change agents: mentoring both indigenous and non-indigenous youth towards realising their own potential to be a positive influence amongst their own peers.
Thank you for sowing seeds that will tangibly impact the lives of youth and families of the Kimberley!
Organizer
Rebekah Gilchrist
Organizer
Eighty Mile Beach, WA
CHRISTIAN CULTURAL TRUST FUND
Beneficiary