A Mentorship Program for Boys

Building boys into wholesome men.

Forge is a 20-week mentorship program preparing boys ages 8 to 18 for the responsibilities of adulthood through character, discipline, leadership, health, and legacy.

The Need

Most boys aren't in crisis. They're under-formed.

Today's boys grow up with fewer male mentors, more screen exposure, and less structured time around competent adults than any generation before them. They are missing the consistent presence of trustworthy adults who will tell them the truth, expect more from them, and walk alongside them long enough for habits to take root.

We do not have a boy problem. We have a mentorship gap. — The Forge Premise

  • 01Boys lack consistent mentorship from healthy adult men.
  • 02Boys are not being taught how to handle emotion, conflict, or pressure.
  • 03Boys are missing practical life skills — cooking, repair, money, conversation.
  • 04Boys are forming identity through algorithms instead of community.
  • 05Boys lack a clear, positive vision of adult manhood.
What We Teach

Five units. Twenty weeks. One forging.

The 20-week program moves boys from inner foundation to outward responsibility. Each unit builds on the one before.

01

Identity & Foundation

Who am I, what do I value, and what do I stand for?

Weeks 1–4
02

Discipline & Responsibility

Habits, accountability, work ethic, and the power of saying no.

Weeks 5–8
03

Leadership & Relationships

Vision, respect for others, brotherhood, and service.

Weeks 9–12
04

Power, Health & Legacy

Strength used well, physical and mental health, personal values.

Weeks 13–16
05

Legacy & Manhood

Maturity, integrity, future vision, and graduation.

Weeks 17–20
How It Works

Boys learn through experience, repetition, and relationship.

Every weekly session follows a five-part rhythm built around real-world activity, honest conversation, and a clear take-home commitment.

Step 01

Hook

A story, a question, a short physical challenge that opens the session.

Step 02

Teach

A clear, brief teaching on the week's topic — fifteen to twenty minutes.

Step 03

Practice

A hands-on activity, role-play, or simulation that puts the truth into the body.

Step 04

Talk

Mentor-led small-group reflection — six to eight boys per mentor.

Step 05

Take

One specific commitment each boy carries into the week ahead.

Outcomes

What boys walk away with.

By the end of 20 weeks, every boy who completes Forge will have:

Partnership

Forge plugs into your community.

Forge is designed to work inside schools, community centers, gyms, recreation centers, and nonprofits. We bring the program; you bring the boys.

What partners provide

  • A consistent, safe meeting space for 20 weeks.
  • Help recruiting boys from your community.
  • A named partner-side point of contact.
  • Co-promotion of graduation as a community event.

What partners receive

  • A turnkey, evidence-informed program.
  • Trained mentors and full delivery support.
  • A written impact report after each cohort.
  • Co-branding rights for the duration of the partnership.
Start a Cohort

Let's build something that lasts.

If your organization serves boys, Forge gives you a structured, values-driven way to invest in them for 20 formative weeks.

Dr. Mariam Olaniyi
Program Director