Developed by Dr. Martin Brokenleg, the Circle of Courage® is a model of positive child and youth development based on the universal principle that to be emotionally healthy all youth need a sense of belonging, mastery, independence and generosity. This framework integrates Indigenous knowledge and traditional wisdom with contemporary youth development work.
The Spirit of Belonging: The universal longing for human bonds is nurtured by relationships of trust so that the child can say, "I am loved"
The Spirit of Mastery: The child's inborn thirst for learning is nurtured; learning to cope with the world, the child can say, "I can succeed."
The Spirit of Independence: The child's free will is nurtured by increased responsibility so that the child can say, "I have power to make decisions."
The Spirit Of Generosity: The child's character is nurtured by concern for others so that the child can say, "I have a purpose for my life."
This community level work was captured by a graphic artist and resulted in the following depiction of how our collective work aligns with this framework