This two-part educational programme delved into rites of passage practice for marking the transition into adulthood, and looked at how we can create authentic experiences for our youth. The overall objective of ‘Stepping into Adulthood: Rites of Passage Tools for Youth Workers’ was to mine the wisdom of ancient cultural practice and empower a new generation of youth workers with the tools, techniques and attitudes to support young people’s journeys of self-discovery.

What do young people genuinely need in order to mark the map of their lives, and what are the elements and actions that will make this matter to them?

An important overarching goal of the project was that the participants develop confidently into the ‘elders’ of the future.The training venue itself was in a very special and magical place in the Forest of Dean, England. Every part of the course was followed up by self reflection activities and on-line gatherings for the group sharing, holding the space and empowerment that gave further inspiration. Participants returned to their home communities with the confidence to awaken young people to a richer, more engaged life.

Little did we know how profoundly it would impact us.
Watch an Instagram reel capturing the essence of the remarkable course:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/811556299821064