Summer Mentoring Initiative for Young Men
Harris Teen Forge is a summer mentoring initiative for young men ages 14-18. It is dedicated to shaping teens into cultured, educated, and responsible leaders.
HTF nurtures spiritual growth and character development while equipping participants with the skills and values needed to live successful lives and become leaders in their families and the community.
The program incorporates cultural and educational enrichment, leadership development, and global missions to prepare young men to lead with wisdom, compassion, and courage.
Program Highlights:
- Healthy friendships: Get to know each other and build lasting friendships.
- Global Cultural Immersion Experience & Missions: Travel to Africa to engage with the arts, and history to broaden perspective and to participate in mission opportunities and gain greater appreciation for the broader world.
- Leadership & Skills Development: Learn leadership principles to lead responsible lives and learn applicable skills to sharpen their thinking and craftsmanship.
- Academic and Career Guidance: Receive support for educational excellence and future success.
- Community Service & Spiritual Development: Participate in projects that demonstrate love in action.
- Leadership Connections: Build relationships with leaders who provide guidance, skills development, accountability, and encouragement.
A cornerstone of the HTF Summer Mentoring Program is its transformative educational pilgrimage to Ghana and other African countries. These life-changing experiences immerse young men in the rich history, culture, and resilience of the African diaspora. Participants visit significant historical and cultural landmarks such as the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, the Cape Coast Castle, and the Elmina Castle. They play sports and engage in meaningful dialogue with Ghanaian youth, participate in educational outreach initiatives, meet with key Ghanaian leaders, worship in local churches, and experience firsthand the beauty and complexity of contemporary Ghanaian life.
For many participants, these journeys are far more than international trips—they are moments of personal discovery and transformation. Standing in the slave dungeons where millions of Africans endured unimaginable suffering creates a profound connection to history that no textbook can replicate. At the same time, interacting with thriving African communities challenges stereotypes and broadens perspectives about Africa’s past, present, and future. Young men begin to see themselves as part of a larger global story, one marked not only by struggle but also by resilience, achievement, faith, and hope.
HTF provides a safe, supportive environment where young men are equipped to grow spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and socially. Through intentional mentoring, leadership development, and faith formation, participants are prepared to make a meaningful impact in their families, communities, and the world. HTF is designed for teens who desire to deepen their faith, discover their purpose, and cultivate the leadership gifts God has placed within them.
At Harris Institute, we believe that some of life’s most transformative lessons are learned beyond the classroom. For this reason, experiential learning and cultural immersion are central to the HTF experience. Travel, service, and cross-cultural engagement expose young men to new perspectives that challenge assumptions, broaden horizons, and deepen understanding.
The mentoring component of HTF reinforces these experiences by connecting participants with accomplished leaders, professionals, pastors, entrepreneurs, and educators who invest personally in their growth. Through conversations, workshops, service opportunities, and shared experiences, young men are encouraged to envision possibilities for their own futures that extend beyond the limitations of their immediate circumstances. They learn the value of discipline, character, faith, and perseverance while developing practical leadership skills that will serve them for years to come.
Research from the National Institutes of Health indicates that these types of experiences foster empathy, strengthen self-confidence, and encourage the development of a leadership mindset. Studies also suggest that meaningful cross-cultural engagement can increase adaptability, cultural competence, and critical thinking skills—qualities that are increasingly essential in an interconnected world.
By stepping beyond the boundaries of their familiar environments, HTF participants gain a deeper understanding of themselves, the intersection of African and American histories, and their responsibility to the world around them. They learn to see global challenges through a broader lens, develop greater cognitive flexibility, and cultivate a holy imagination for what is possible in their own lives and communities. They begin to understand that leadership is not merely about personal success, but about serving others, solving problems, and contributing to the common good.
As a result, participants return home more confident, culturally aware, spiritually grounded, and academically motivated. They carry with them a renewed sense of identity, purpose, and possibility. Equipped with new knowledge, deeper faith, and a broader worldview, they are prepared to serve as emerging leaders, bridge-builders, and agents of positive change in their schools, churches, communities, and the world.
Transforming Young Men Through Mentorship, Service, and Global Learning
At Harris Teen Forge (HTF), we believe young men are not merely the leaders of tomorrow—they are leaders in formation today. Through intentional mentoring, leadership development, spiritual formation, and international educational experiences, HTF equips teen boys to see beyond their immediate circumstances and discover their purpose in a global community.
For many participants, the trip to Africa is their first international trip. It quickly becomes a life-changing and formative experience.
Developing a Global Perspective
Participants consistently report that traveling to Ghana broadened their understanding of the world and their place within it. Through cultural immersion, interactions with local students, and visits to significant historical sites, the young men gained a deeper appreciation for global citizenship and cross-cultural understanding.
After the last trip to Ghana, one mentee reflected:
“At first it was kind of overwhelming, but I learned to be more open.”
That openness became a gateway to personal growth, increased confidence, and a willingness to engage people and experiences beyond their comfort zones.
Connecting Identity to History
For many participants, visiting sites such as the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre and the historic slave castles was among the most powerful experiences of the trip.
History moved from textbook pages to lived reality.
Students stood in places where generations before them endured unimaginable suffering while also witnessing stories of resilience, courage, and freedom. These experiences helped participants develop a deeper understanding of African history, the African diaspora, and their own identities.
As one young man shared:
“It’s one thing to hear about slavery in school, but it’s another thing to stand in those places. It gave me a deeper respect for the past.”
Another participant noted:
“They remind me of where we came from and the strength of our people. This trip inspired me to become a leader and to learn more about African history.”
Learning Through Service
The Ghana Educational Pilgrimage is not simply about travel—it is about serving others.
Through the STEM Camp and educational outreach activities, participants worked alongside Ghanaian students, taught lessons, built relationships, and encouraged young learners.
Many mentees discovered that leadership is not primarily about status but about serving others.
One participant described the experience this way:
“I found great meaning in helping children, supporting their education, and seeing their smiles—it made it all worthwhile.”
These experiences cultivate empathy, responsibility, and a commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of others.
Building Confidence and Purpose
Beyond the historical and educational experiences, participants frequently describe a growing sense of self-awareness and purpose.
Exposure to new cultures, traditions, and ways of thinking challenged them to reflect on who they are and who they hope to become.
One young man described learning traditional Ghanaian drumming:
“It awakened a deeper aspect of my identity and made me feel closer to myself. It unlocked a type of bond with those around me that I never knew I could experience.”
Experiences like these help participants develop confidence, cultural awareness, and a stronger sense of belonging.
Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders
The impact of Harris Teen Forge extends far beyond a single summer.
Participants return home with expanded horizons, stronger leadership skills, greater cultural awareness, and renewed motivation to pursue educational and professional goals. They learn that leadership involves service, that identity is strengthened through understanding one’s history, and that meaningful relationships can be built across cultures and continents.
Through mentoring, international education, and hands-on service, Harris Teen Forge is helping young men become thoughtful leaders, engaged citizens, and compassionate changemakers.
Because when young men are given the opportunity to see the world, serve others, and discover their purpose, their lives—and the communities they will one day lead—are transformed.