What do a life coach from the Sunshine Coast, five tribal elders, a kiwi photographer, a Native American dancer, a German painter and an Indonesian rock musician have in common.

They're just some of the participants in an extraordinary journey that will be taking place this August, deep in the rainforest of Borneo.

An encounter in a remote corner of Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) led New Zealand born photographer David Metcalf and Sunshine Coast life coach Rex Urwin to take up the cause of the Dayak tribe, who still live traditional lives based on their veneration for a piece of land known as 'The Forbidden Forest'.

David and Rex first met the Dayaks of Setulang village a year ago while on an expedition in the rainforest close to the border with Malaysia. They heard the Dayak's tale of displacement - they moved out of their ancestral home in the 1970s - and their longing to return to their original village upriver.

David and Rex, with a group of Australian men, including James have pledged to grant the Dayaks their wish, and at the same time raise awareness of the threats - both cultural and environmental - faced by the area known as 'Asia's Amazon'.

Coming along on the eight-day journey to bring the Dayaks home will be a team of men including Jason Houston, a film-maker from Canada, who will be creating a multimedia documentary to highlight the Dayak's plight and record the extraordinary interactions between a group of artists and musicians from around the world.

Also making the journey will be Wolfgang Widmoser, a German-born painter, Robi Navicula, leader of one of Indonesia's best-known grunge bands, and Kevin Locke, a Native American dancer, storyteller, cultural ambassador and recording artist.

The men are now crowdfunding for the $15,000 needed to make the documentary.

David says:

"52% of Borneo has been destroyed in just one generation. Development of palm oil in recent times is turning this beautiful island into a wasteland, devouring all in its path including threatened animals such as the Orangutans, plant life that is some of the most unique on the planet. This journey back is really about a message of unity, and how critical it is that we start listening to cultures such as the Dayaks who have learned to live in harmony with this environment for thousands of years."

Kole Adjang, one of the elders, says:

"We don't know exactly what will happen in the future. Will the next generation keep our agreement, or will they damage, open new land or log? Perhaps serve their self interest? We hope that by this example, our great grandchildren will also take care of our land and Tana Olen [the Forbidden Forest]."

High res images and video also available.

Notes to Editors:

Team bios (Australian particpants):

Rex Urwin is a master coach and workshop developer. He runs programs in Australia and internationally, including Bali helping people lead more peaceful and fulfilling lives. Rex has studied indigenous cultures for over 20 years incorporating ancient wisdom and western psychology.

Rex has been involved in working with cultures and eco tourism to help us all enjoy and sustain the incredibly rich diversity of life.

James Greenshields is an ex-army major who recovered from post-traumatic stress after his armoured vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq five years ago. Since then he has become known by audiences around Australia as a man with the ability to touch the heart of all who hear him speak.

The ground-breaking work he does with employees of large award-winning corporations now sees him regularly consulted by leaders of these organisations in the area of Resilient Leadership. James, with his partner Kirsty, setup the Centre For Resilient Leadership which involves the development of a global community of inspired leaders – leaders who live from the heart, who recognise there is no distinction between 'professional' and 'personal' leadership. We want to build a community of leaders who encourage and inspire others with their values- driven leadership.

Part of this includes James' favourite program – The Warrior Series. The Young Warrior Leadership Program fills the gap left when western society let go of the rite of passage for its young men, while the men's program assists men find their true, balanced warrior within.

For interview opportunities with Rex Urwin, expedition leader, contact rex@rexurwin.com or call 0423 502084. For interviews with James Greenshields, please email james@jamesgreenshields.com.

More info www.thejourneyback.info

https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/6kIi0