To establish a sustainable, durable change in manhood, we will not only have to address the men of today, but surely those of tomorrow. The boys and young men of today may be guided in their growth to maturity. That way there will be several (healthy) roll models in every boys life, so he can mirror himself. And then have a better sense of what kind of man he wants to become himself.

Initiations play a big part in this. By ceremonially celebrating the transitions in the development from boy to man, we mark the steps that are taken. This way we acknowledge the boy for his growth in wisdom and maturity. This acknowledgement is essential. We recognize the immense impact these initiations have on the young men who partake in them.

There are many examples of initiations in other (older) cultures. In our western culture they mostly disappeared or Christianized, but Firemakers strives to bring back these traditions, to make them our own, to promote and spread them.

We do this by facilitating Parent-Child-weekends, Initiation weekends and Initiation journeys. At the same time we strives to make initiations a regular part of the curriculum in schools. And to stimulate parents to create initiation moments for their children. Because initiations do not always have to take place in an organized environment.

For this missions Firemakers joined forces with Valka, an organisation from Flanders that organises these kinds of initiations and also trains people to do this. Initiator Ward Kumpen has been a part of the Firemakers community for years and various brothers from within Firemakers facilitate within the Valka activities.