What is a Rite of Passage?
- It is a ceremony, event or milestone that marks an important transition in one's life. This includes births, marriages, comings of age, parenthood or grandparenthood, and the ending of cycles.
- In our context, programs are designed to help students, families and their communities to mark the significant transitions in these young peoples lives e.g. from primary school to high school.
Why are Rites of Passages so important?
- They help facilitate growth or change in a person's identity, sense of self, beliefs and values.
- They help people transition more seamlessly between one phase of life to another.
- They strengthen family and community bonds.
- Heighten sense of self and feel empowered to make meaningful changes
- Strengthen relationship with self, others and with nature
- Recognise internal and external supports to both regulate and overcome challenges
- Honour unique gifts, strengths and talents
- Create a positive vision for their future
- Strengthen self-confidence, self-esteem and sense of wellbeing
Stages of a ROP
Our trained mentors use the following framework (developed by the Rites of Passage Institute) to facilitate these experiences:
- Separation – Participants leave their everyday lives and familiar environments and a “container" is created without outside influence.
- Story – Personal or mythical stories are used to communicate wisdom, teaching and lessons that offers opportunity for participants to reflect on their messages.
- Challenge – This is crucial to take participants outside their comfort zone during a ROP to help build confidence, resilience and self-esteem.
- Vision – As participants reflect on their journey, they are then empowered to create a vision for the next stage of their life with clear intent for their next step.
- Honouring – Lets the unique gifts, strengths and talents to be honoured and recognised by others allowing participants to feel empowered and supported by their community.
- Integration – Participants return to their community with their growth and change celebrated changing their status in their community.