Civic Courage

Civic courage is character building. It helps to keep us human. It encourages us to do the “right thing” regardless of who’s watching.

- Lauren Lemonius, Melton Fellow and member of the Civic Courage Project Team

The courage to stand up for one's own conviction, even if there might result negative consequences for oneself: This is one definition of civic courage, a concept that has been explored in depth by the “Civic Courage” Project Team. Around 15 Fellows from each of the Melton Foundation partner campuses have dedicated much effort and creativity to understand what civic courage means in our cultures and learn about the numerous challenges when it comes to acting courageously. In order to share knowledge and increase awareness, they exchanged personal experiences, analyzed situations and ways of intervention and explored cultural factors that influence civic courage.

The project has developed a website designed to raise awareness and give "tools" to a wider community. In addition, the Project Team has held several workshops on MF campuses and for local communities, and is working with partner organizations to expand the scope of Civic Courage.

• BMS on domestic violence

• DU on encouraging your community to vote

• FSU on violence against foreigners in a metro

• UFRO on discrimination of foreigners in school

• ZU on cultural misunderstandings of minorities

The Civic Courage Project Team was coordinated by Mandy Schönfeld, Mareike Dietz and Marleen Haupt from FSU Campus is Jena, Germany. The team included members from all campuses in the Melton Foundation network, working in Germany, Chile, China, India, and the United States.