Our Story

Little Paths, formerly known as Kuleana Kids was formed in 2009. 

Our charity was formed after one of our three director’s Kate Bowyer returned from a volunteer experience in Tanzania.

“I first volunteered in 2008 with an organisation called Care Takers of the Environment (COET) at the Kuleana Centre, previously managed by Kuleana Organisation. I was so profoundly changed after witnessing first hand the struggles that these kids overcame every single day and after meeting and hearing these kids stories that I felt such a responsibility to never forget them and to always do what I could to help. 

Shortly after arriving to Australia, following my first visit, I was discussing an experience I had had with a young 7 year old boy, who asked me very directly to ‘never forget about him and the boys,’ he had asked me to make him a promise and I did.  I promised him that I would tell people about him and the other kids and that I would always help him, however I could.  This little boy’s one wish was education. 

When talking to (Director) Bianca, about how much I wanted to be able to keep this promise to him and how it all seemed to impossible, Bianca said encouraged me to go ahead with a ‘crazy idea I’d had of setting up a not for profit charity organisation, dedicated to the welfare and education of these kids and kids like them.  She told me to ‘bite of more than I could chew and chew like mad’ and so, I did… Kate Bowyer.

“Kate's experiences moved us all.  Her stories of the children she met, their needs and the needs of their community, left us wanting to help and introduced us to the world wide 'street child' epidemic that many of us had never known of before.  

We decided that something could and should be done in support of children who were living homeless world wide, most often not attending school, in adult employment, having to work to survive and facing many extreme and dangerous circumstances.  As a result Kuleana Kids was formed, now called Little Pathways.”  - Bianca Board.

During 2011, we acted on a recognised need in Tanzania, to provide better support for secondary students. With secondary school education being non-compulsory in Tanzania, we decided that we would do what we could to ensure that the opportunity to finish their entire secondary school journey was available to both boys and girls in developing countries.  

We are now able to proudly make available Little Paths Secondary School Scholarship Fund in 2012, accepting applicants during 2011.

Furthermore, during 2010 we were lucky enough to witness Tara Winkler’s story on ABC’s Australian Story.  Her story was similar in many ways to Kate’s and her commitment to the children she found in Cambodia was simply awe inspiring and not to be ignored.  We are currently negotiating ways in which Little Paths can be a support for the Cambodian Children under Tara’s care.

Little Paths has been a learning experience for us all.  We have met many inspiring people and continue to be motivated by the endless stream of people, who when given the chance to change a life, have excitedly jumped on board to share in this journey with us. 

We are continually encouraged by the selfless giving of others and genuine passion that our sponsors and other contributors have for the children supported by Little Paths.

Since we began we have been moving from strength to strength, creating change and contributing to our mission to provide opportunities for young people who have been or are currently experiencing homelessness or street dwelling in third world countries. 

Our mission is to support these wonderful kids to move towards successful and educated futures.  We are dedicated to supporting trusted and inclusive organisations that provide ‘on the ground’ support for children in need and lay the ‘path’ required to support street children towards becoming successful Tanzanian or successful Cambodian Citizens.