THE RITE JOURNEY

TRANSFORMING TODAY’S TEENS

What We Do

For over 20 years The Rite Journey has been providing unique educational programs in schools and organisations designed to support the development of self-aware, responsible, respectful, resilient and resourceful adults.

By raising young people’s consciousness about transitioning from child to adult & having conversations with them about what really matters we can assist in guiding their journey into adulthood.

Our year-long program uses a Rite of Passage framework to deepen the students’ experience of this important life transition.

WHY WE DO IT

We aim to make a positive difference in a society where:

Boys are under-fathered & the media displays role models making poor choices
Girls are prematurely sexualised & popular media presents unobtainable role models
“Bubble-wrapping” prevents the growth that comes through risk and challenge
Young people average 30 hours a week in front of a screen at the expense of human connection
Sociologists now suggest that adolescence spans from age 10 to 30

HOW WE DO IT

Andrew has used his two decades of teaching experience to specially develop a program which involves adolescents in reflection, discussion and developing strategies around transitioning into adulthood.

The Rite Journey was created by teachers in the school setting and as such is crafted to specifically meet the needs of schools. It is a year-long program in which teachers receive unique training, not only in how to deliver this comprehensive program to students in their school, but also in the particular middle schooling methodologies which engage students in the process.

THE RITE JOURNEY IS A YEAR LONG PROGRAM DESIGNED TO:

acknowledge & celebrate each student’s shift into adulthood
offer conversations & experiences to guide this transition
foster connections with positive adult role models
educate & include parents/carers in the process
connect students with their strengths & build self-awareness
transform school culture by developing responsibility

FOUR THEMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

A CONTEMPORARY RITE OF PASSAGE

In 1909 anthropologist Arnold Van Gennep recognised that most cultures transitioned individuals from one social role to another by way of what he termed ‘rites of passage’. He recognised three distinct elements throughout different cultures: separation, transformation and reincorporation.

The Rite Journey acknowledges the lack of this process in western culture and reinvents this transition into adulthood using a Hero’s Journey. It expands the 3 elements into seven stages.

SEVEN STAGES OF THE RITE JOURNEY

"The Rite Journey is one of the most exciting and well conceived ideas in education for a very long time. It is dense in content and interaction and uses powerful but simple ritual stages that will be long remembered and treasured. There are lots of good programs about, but nothing I have seen that is so comprehensive, sustained over time and potentially so life changing for the students involved."

“There is no doubt in my mind that The Rite Journey has changed my son’s life”

"Seeing our young women grow through this year from the first day at sunrise to the last day at sunset and to see how our families embrace the programme is a joy to see. Our teachers too have embraced the programme and are advocates and mentors for others. We are certainly proud to be a shining example of a Rite Journey school."

"The Rite Journey offers girls a profound, intricate, and imaginative journey. It feeds their inner self, allowing them to get to know themselves, and to start shaping their future. Its strength lies in helping girls look at the difficult areas life throws up, and in capturing stories from the past – their own and those of their ancestors. TRJ is a wonderful contribution to this next generation. They will benefit greatly from it."

"After 5 years worth of world-wide research, finally we have found a program that meets the developmental needs of adolescence. Staff and students are reporting the tremendous impact of the program and parents are also expressing their gratitude for such a process. The program is creating some sort of cultural shift in our college.”

“The Rite Journey is already one of the best initiation into successful adulthood programs for adolescents in the world. It is therefore an honor and a pleasure to work with Andrew and Graham to make this program even better.”

"The Rite Journey is having a significant impact on our Year 9 group - we had a problematic group in Year 8 last year - yet we have seen little to no evidence this year of any of this. We have taken these students on excursions and they have been extraordinary - we have classes that were 'problem' classes last year suddenly being compliant and willing to engage and learn. In summary - it has been a revelation to us all."

"The program’s effect on the young people is remarkable. Changes in the quality of social interaction are most noticeable, followed by a relaxed atmosphere around The Rite Journey sessions. The young people learn they will be heard and listened to and possibly for the first time, begin to have an understanding of their true, inner natures."