Frequently Asked Questions

Rising Sons Africa is a school-based mentorship and life-readiness programme for boys aged 13–18. It is delivered through RSA Foundations 13–15 and RSA Transition 16–18, with families reinforcing selected learning and age-appropriate experiences helping boys apply what they learn.

RSA Foundations is a one-year programme completed once between ages 13 and 15. RSA Transition is a separate one-year programme completed once between ages 16 and 18. Transition is self-contained, so a boy can join it without first completing Foundations.

Both programmes develop boys through Identity, Responsibility, Relationships, Leadership and Purpose. The depth, examples, tools and expectations differ between Foundations and Transition.

Each formal programme includes 27 school sessions: one 90-minute session per week for nine teaching weeks in each of three terms.

No. RSA is a school-based mentorship and life-readiness programme. Holiday experiences reinforce the learning from school; they are not the programme itself.

No. Residential attendance is not required for programme completion. RSA provides an approved alternative application route where a boy cannot attend because of financial capacity, disability, health, family preference, faith or schedule.

The recurring school programme is delivered by trained Professional RSA Mentors. Specialist / Guest Mentors and approved partners contribute only where their expertise adds value.

The core recurring delivery role is a paid and trained professional role. Volunteers or specialists may support defined activities, but they are not assumed to carry the Professional Mentor role.

RSA strengthens rather than replaces the family role. Parent engagement is light, practical and age-appropriate and may include orientation, consent, Parent–Son Practice Agreements, experience briefings and future-readiness conversations.

Not routinely. RSA does not normally ask parents to inspect private journal content. Safety concerns are handled through the agreed safeguarding process.

No. RSA complements the school. The school keeps its safeguarding and pastoral responsibilities while RSA applies its own programme safeguarding standards and agreed escalation routes.

The school provides a protected timetable, suitable space, a School RSA Patron/Liaison, a school safeguarding interface, attendance coordination and parent communication support.

RSA provides the curriculum, Professional Mentors, tools and journals, family resources, safeguarding standards, monitoring and learning, reporting, quality assurance, and experiential and Network design.

No. Teachers are not expected to become RSA instructors.

A boy does not repeat Foundations every year. If he is not yet 16, he may remain connected through suitable RSA Network activities. At 16 he becomes eligible for Transition.

The formal school-based curriculum is complete. A participant may remain connected through approved RSA Network, service, career exposure, alumni or other opportunities.

RSA reports participation, learning, practice, quality and programme learning. It does not convert attendance or participation into claims of permanent character change.

No. RSA uses developmental evidence rather than grades, character scores or psychological profiles.

RSA is voluntary and developmental. It is not restricted to boys who are struggling academically, behaviourally or emotionally, and schools should not use it as a disciplinary placement.

Yes. Transition is self-contained and can be entered directly by a first-time participant aged 16–18.

No. RSA is a structured developmental programme, not an accredited academic, clinical or therapeutic service. Mentors do not diagnose or counsel beyond their competence, and professional support is referred where needed.

RSA uses screened adults, clear professional boundaries, parent/caregiver consent, participant assent, safeguarding induction, secure data controls and defined school/RSA escalation routes. There is no forced disclosure or unapproved unsupervised one-to-one adult access.

Yes. Sponsor support may underwrite school adoption, participant access, Professional Mentor capacity, experiential learning, family engagement, monitoring and learning, or RSA Network infrastructure.

Yes, where the contribution is approved, age-appropriate and safe. RSA retains programme ownership and agrees the purpose, role, safeguarding, consent, data and developmental closure.

No. RSA media and podcast work is separate from the participant curriculum. It supports public conversation and should not be presented as another programme delivery route.

Only where separate media consent has been given. A boy may participate in RSA without participating in media.

No. Views, downloads and social engagement are communications reach. Programme evidence is reported separately.

RSA is not presented as an accredited academic, clinical, examination or certified qualification provider. It is a structured, safeguarded, school-based mentorship and life-readiness programme.

Use the website contact form or email info@risingsons.africa. For safeguarding concerns, write “Safeguarding Concern” in the subject line.