Stories

Chasten’s mission to tell the stories that matter  For Chasten Yeatman, filmmaking isn’t just a creative outlet, it’s a powerful tool for cultural truth-telling.  The 20-year-old Yarrabah man is currently studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts, majoring in Film and Screen, at QUT. But his passion for storytelling began much earlier, back in high school, […]

How one brother’s example sparked a young scholars leadership journey  When Hope Vale’s Makenzie Bowen first arrived at Marist College Ashgrove as a Year 7 student, he wasn’t alone. His older brother, Dwayne, had already blazed the trail with a Cape York Leaders Program (CYLP) scholarship. His brother’s presence made those early days easier but […]

With a mix of nerves and excitement, Year 7 student Jahleriah left her family in Hope Vale to begin boarding at Stuartholme School in Brisbane through the Cape York Leaders Program.  “Wow, this is a big school, this is a big city,” were her first words stepping onto campus.   Reflecting on her first days, she […]

For Year 9 student Ava Pensio, water has always been a place of calm and connection. Growing up in Cooktown, weekends meant snorkelling, spearfishing and soaking in the world beneath the surface.  The transition to boarding school at St Peter’s Lutheran College in Brisbane brought a different kind of deep dive into independence, responsibility and […]

Celebrating 20 Years of the Cape York Leaders Program in Townsville On Wulgurukaba and Bindal Country, Townsville, Cape York Leaders Program (CYLP) marked a powerful milestone of 20 years shaping futures, strengthening culture and building leaders. Bringing together students, parents, schools, alumni and staff in the region, the room was filled with pride as generations […]

Hezra Rankin’s journey with CYLP has only just begun  Exchanging family fishing trips with the bustling streets of Brisbane and the study that comes with it at Marist College Ashgrove wasn’t easy for Hope Vale’s Hezra Rankin, but with with courage, consistency and the support of the Cape York Leaders Program (CYLP), he’s making the […]

Year 9 student Chanae Cannon still calls Hope Vale home, yet after two years at St Peter’s Lutheran College in Brisbane, her weeks follow a rhythm far removed from the Cape’s easy flow.  Boarding life is “way more planned out,” according to Chanae. “You kind of know what’s going to happen – there’s always a […]

How Desmond Bowen is making the most of boarding school, both in class and on the field.

Michael Williams understood the significance of making a fresh start and the value of a solid education – he knows it will enable him to become one of the first, home-grown, electricians in his town.  Originally from Bamaga, the Year 10 student joined Cape York Leaders Program (CYLP) in Year 9 after his mum encouraged […]

While many young artists dream of gallery walls, Cape York Leaders Program Year 8 student Harleigh Mosby envisions a patisserie window filled with cakes that resemble art. She aims to combine her artistic talents and love for baking, and with the support of CYLP, her dream is within reach.  “I really want to be an […]