A community dedicated to rites of passage for boys aged 14-16
Each year Kingfisher Project offers a group of 8 teenage boys a 4-day, rites-of-passage adventure.
Throughout history, cultures have understood the benefits of initiating teenagers. They have come up with clear, firm, creative ways to guide teenagers’ energy towards self-worth and a sense of their place in the world.
But these days, many children grow up without any serious effort to mark their coming of age. A lack of rites of passage can lead young men to self-initiation and a range of troubled behaviours: from anxiety and lack of belief to addictions, aggression, and gangs.
Kingfisher Project springs from a wish to do something about this, by offering teenage boys the fresh sense of direction and self-worth provided by communal initiation.
Parents cannot provide rites of passage alone. But a group of resilient and trustworthy men, with knowledge of ritual and the human heart, can. With help from a community like this, teenagers can discover a new sense of themselves, as respected and self-respecting young men.
William Ayot
William Ayot is an award-winning poet, international facilitator and ritualist. He has been leading men’s retreats, rites of passage and initiatory events since 1992. He teaches and coaches around the world and holds rituals at his purpose-built site in Wales. Writing includes, “Email from the Soul” (poetry) & “Re-enchanting the Forest: Meaningful Ritual in a Secular World” (prose.)
Simon Roe
Simon Roe originally trained as a body psychotherapist. For the past twenty years he has focused on working with men and teenage boys. He became a co-leader of the Mandorla Men's Rites of Passage programme in 2001. From 2009-2017 he co-developed and delivered the 'Do it Different' programme, working with teenage boys using violent and abusive behaviour at home, which is recognised as an example of best practice. Simon is a fully accredited member of The Association of Facilitators.
Our Community
The Kingfisher Project team also includes Eric Maddern, Marcus Joseph, Ben Howarth, Anthony Haddon, Richard Sylvester, Lee Stagles, Jeremy Hawkey & Sean Taylor.
As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell’s
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves — goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,
Crying Whát I dó is me: for that I came.
— from AS KINGFISHERS CATCH FIRE by Gerard Manley Hopkins
Hear from participants about their Kingfisher Project experience.