The secret societies consist of approximately half of the Liberian people that aim towards teaching one another survival techniques as well as dances or spiritual communication. The main two societies are called the Poro meaning "men" and the Sande meaning "women". When a teenagers known as a youngster in a tribe reaches a certain age they enter a special type of school held by the secret society. There they learn secrets about life and adulthood that cannot be shared with others not in the society. If so, the punishments are fatal.