South African social entrepreneur Joshua Cox has launched OutLand, a bold new wilderness initiative designed to give young men aged 16-19 a real rite of passage in a time when toxic online influences are shaping a generation.

In a noisy digital world where male identity is increasingly defined by the likes of Andrew Tate and the “manosphere” on TikTok and YouTube, OutLand offers a counter-narrative: a week-long, raw immersion into the rhythms of a working Karoo farm, stripped of screens, creature comforts, and curated programmes.

“It’s not a bootcamp. It’s not a course. It’s a challenge,” says Cox. “From age 16 to 19, I spent my school holidays working on a Karoo sheep and game farm. That responsibility, risk, and real work built the confidence that shaped my career and the man I am today. OutLand is my way of making that kind of formative experience accessible to others.”

The Problem: A Global Crisis in Masculinity

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), suicide is the second leading cause of death among young men globally, and a report by the American Journal of Men’s Health reveals that the most common words found in suicide notes from men are “useless” and “worthless.” In the UK, more than half of young men say they have no role models who reflect the kind of man they aspire to be. This absence of positive guidance is compounded by the influence of algorithms, which increasingly push teenage boys toward hyper-masculine, misogynistic content, The Center for Countering Digital Hate found that TikTok recommends Andrew Tate videos to 13-year-old male users within minutes of joining the platform.

“Boys are physically safe in their bedrooms, but digitally they are in a dangerous, unfiltered world,” says Cox. “There’s a vacuum where a positive masculinity movement should be. OutLand gives young men a space to take real responsibility, to test themselves, and to discover their own definition of manhood, grounded in respect, resilience, and self-reliance.”

The OutLand Experience

Over seven days, participants live and work on a remote Karoo farm alongside a peer (applications are taken in pairs). They rise early, cook for themselves, and take on essential farm work; from herding sheep to repairing fences. There are no mentors hovering, no step-by-step instructions, it’s just real tasks that need to be done, and the trust to do them.

OutLand is intentionally selective. Applicants must be mentally stable, growth-oriented, and willing to embrace physical challenge and risk.

Why This Matters

Research shows that rites of passage are vital in adolescent male development, historically marking the transition from boyhood to adulthood with challenges that build resilience and purpose. In modern society, many of these opportunities have vanished, leaving boys adrift in algorithm-driven echo chambers.

Cox explains that OutLand taps into a centuries-old truth: adversity in nature changes people. “Without phones, parents, or constant oversight, young men experience the satisfaction of doing work that matters, the confidence that comes from self-sufficiency, and the clarity that comes from wide open spaces under Karoo skies,” he says.

Applications Now Open

The first OutLand experience will run in the October school holidays on farms near Montagu and McGregor, just a few hours from Cape Town. Spaces are limited.

To apply or join the waiting list: https://tally.so/r/nPQjqx or visit the website for more information: liveoutland.co.za