The Quest

The young men’s residential programme is called the Quest. Conceived as contemporary rites of passage for young men making the transition from boyhood to manhood, Quest is a 2- day residential workshop primarily encouraging a search for meaning, hope and compassion that seeks to provoke questions of identity and sense of purpose.

The aim is to present an alternative to incapacitating and destructive models of masculinity characterised, for example, by rationalism, oppressive power and narcissistic individualism. The facilitators exemplify an authentic presence that values feelings, appreciates power as empowerment of self and others, and that emphasises interdependent autonomy.

The approach is intense yet compassionate and draws on a combination of Jungian psychology, mythology and empirical learning. Each participant is facilitated through a sequence of experiences that raise awareness and allows him to discover a richer sense of masculinity. He is invited to engage in shared storytelling and challenged to accomplish break-through exercises that help him to restructure his outlook and perspective of himself.

An important element of the Quest is the recognition and validation of the strengths, aptitudes, talents and potential of the young men by unrelated older men. Emphasis is placed on being aware of and being at ease with emotion, on improving self image and esteem, on developing a sense of trust in self and others, on relating to women in a mature manner, and on being an agent of change, hope and betterment.

The Quest is mythodramatic in that it physically engages both imagination and emotion using a shared story or myth as a reflective backdrop. Myth marks the distinction between two types of adult support – the Mentor, who teaches and helps with skill development and practical issues, and the Guide who is primarily interested in the soul, conscience and the destiny of the young man.

During the programme, each young man engages with a personal guide or mentor. Besides overseeing him through various challenges, the mentor becomes available to him after the programme to help him integrate his learning and offer support in key tasks intended and designed to further strengthen his self-awareness and confidence.