About us
The Pathways Foundation is a high impact social venture that provides a contemporary, community based Rite of Passage for boys into Manhood and girls into Womanhood. The national, award winning Pathways to Manhood program has been transforming the lives of Australian families since 1995 and in addition to the Rites of Passage programs Pathways also offers Leadership Programs, programs for 6 to 10 yo boys and their Dads, programs for Returning Young Men and Women and school and community talks. The Pathways Foundation is a registered harm prevention charity and donations are tax deductible.
There is an African proverb that says “It takes a whole village to raise a child,” and in traditional societies the community did help raise the children. But crucially, in addition to this support, the community invested more time and energy into the Rites of Passage marking the transition from child to young adult than any of the other ceremonies that made up the rich fabric of village life. The villagers knew that their very future depended upon having healthy men and women as community members rather than overgrown boys and girls.
In today’s world it is rare that the village helps bring up the children so it is more important than ever to assist our boys and girls on their first steps to young adulthood. We can step onto the bridge of adolescence with them and help prepare them for the path that lies ahead, help them make that fundamental psychological shift that does not happen in a timely way on its own. Most children will “grow up” eventually, some avoid it until they are 40 or older, some never make it.
An event to help leave the child behind and to celebrate the first steps of the young adult is Every Child’s Rite.
“If the fires that innately burn inside youths are not intentionally and lovingly added to the hearth of community, they will burn down the structures of culture, just to feel the warmth.” (Meade Michael, 1993).
The most common lament that we hear from participating men and women is “I wish that there had been something like this for me when I was growing up.” We know this work makes a difference. Independent market research on Pathways to Manhood participants has confirmed the following significant benefits for the young men: increased confidence, stronger more respectful and supportive father relationships, increased respect for women as well as motivation to set goals, finish school and to participate and give back to their community.
We all want our children to be safe, to do well and for us to stay friends. To achieve this it is vital they grow up emotionally. A Rite of Passage is one of the greatest gifts you can give your son or daughter. Our camps are filling rapidly so to avoid disappointment please click here now to
register
. For more information please go to our
Frequently Asked Questions
or ring us on 1300 850 766.