by Tristan Harley, CEO of Emu Trekkers.

There is no denying that the previous financial year (July 2019 to June 2020) was an incredibly tumultuous period that will forever be etched in our memories.
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We would like to express our wishes to all those who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic around the world, as well as those impacted by the bushfires and floods that hit our region in the summer of 2020. We thank all those who have helped preserve our communities and environment during these times.

Over the past months, Emu Trekkers has been deeply saddened and concerned by the impact the Australian bushfire crisis has had on our environment and our communities. These fires have resulted in tragic loss of life, immense destruction of our natural flora and fauna, and damage to our houses and infrastructure. Emu Trekkers’ operations have also been impacted, requiring many cancellations of our trips during the peak tourism period.
 
Like many others in the community, Emu Trekkers is keen to play a role in the recovery of our communities and our natural environment.
 
Since August 2018, we have proudly supported UNICEF Australia with their mission to promote and protect children's rights around the world, and we have today donated a further $10,000 to UNICEF to help their efforts supporting children and their families affected by the devastating Australian bushfire crisis.
 

By Tristan Harley, CEO of Emu Trekkers.

It is amazing to see how far Emu Trekkers has come since launching its first walks in September 2017. As Australia’s first not-for-profit outdoor tour operator run entirely by volunteer guides, we have made a great start in the tourism market and are already beginning to make a difference to kids in need. 

Emu Trekkers is based on a simple idea that it is possible to offer unique tourism experiences in the natural environment that authentically connect visitors to the local community, raise awareness about important social issues, and in a small way help those communities by providing funding and assistance.

Our overarching mission is summed up in our four-word motto - ‘Hike Australia. Help Kids’. But in everything we do, we try to go further, to inspire others to make a difference, and to think about how they can positively support the communities where they are based.

Sydney-based,100% not-for-profit, outdoor adventure operator, Emu Trekkers has donated $15,000 to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) to celebrate its own first anniversary. The donation brings Emu Trekkers total commitment to ILF to $20,000, or the equivalent of 2,000 culturally-appropriate books, delivered into the hands of children in remote Indigenous communities in Australia.The donation was presented to ILF Executive Director Karen Williams by Emu Trekkers co-founder and CEO, Tristan Harley and the team of volunteers.

Emu Trekkers is proud to announce that the proceeds raised from the treks in 2017 will be going to the amazing charity, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. This Australian charity focuses on improving literacy rates among remote and very remote Indigenous communities in Australia.

Being able to read opens so many doors, but unfortunately, according to the 2017 Closing the Gap report, only 42% of Indigenous Year 5 students in very remote areas in Australia are reaching national minimum reading standards, compared to 94% for non-Indigenous students.

What we love about the Indigenous Literacy Foundation is that they not only give children thousands of new, culturally appropriate books - with a focus on early literacy and first language- but they also run programs to inspire the communities to tell and publish their own stories. Many of these stories, such as Nginingawila Ngirramini – Our Story, are written by the students themselves in their first language and English. These stories focus on their heroes, sacred places and favourite memories.