Circle of Courage - A Youth-Centered Approach to Resilience
This badge recognizes the ability to understand and apply the Circle of Courage model as a foundation for resilient, sustainable and needs-based youth work.
The Circle of Courage, developed by Larry Brendtro, Martin Brokenleg and Steve Van Bockern, integrates developmental psychology, resilience research and Indigenous wisdom. It describes four universal human needs that support healthy development and long-term engagement:
🔵 Belonging – Feeling connected, accepted and safe
🟡 Mastery – Developing competence and confidence
🟢 Independence – Experiencing autonomy and responsibility
🔴 Generosity – Contributing meaningfully to others
The model helps reinterpret behaviour not as a lack of motivation, but often as a signal of unmet needs.
Sustainable engagement grows when these needs are supported - not demanded through pressure.
Estimated Time
Total estimated time: 60 - 90 minutes
Learning Focus
By completing this badge, participants:
- Understand the four needs of the Circle of Courage
- Identify how unmet needs influence behaviour
- Connect resilience with sustainable action
- Develop supportive, non-punitive responses in youth work
- Reflect on their own professional role and wellbeing
Sustainable action grows where people feel:
Connected.
Capable.
Autonomous.
Meaningful.
Supporting human needs is not separate from sustainability — it is its foundation!
Sinun täytyy suorittaa loppuun kaikki tehtävät saadaksesi merkin
Tehtävät
Tehtävä nro.1
Vastauksen vahvistanut: Yksi aktiviteetin järjestäjä
Complete the Circle of Courage Station (Group Task)
a) Watch the required video
b) Clarify together:
- What are the four needs?,
- How are behaviour and resilience explained?
- How can young people be supported without pressure?
c) Reflect and Discuss:
- Which needs are often unmet in youth work settings?
- How do unmet needs show up in behaviour?
- Where do you see these dynamics in young people?
- Where do you notice them in yourself as a youth worker?
d) Transfer to Sustainable Action - Connect the model to sustainability:
- Why can sustainable behaviour not be demanded through pressure?
- How does belonging support environmental responsibility?
- How does mastery increase long-term engagement?
- Why does autonomy make sustainable behaviour authentic?
- How does generosity give meaning to sustainable action?
e) Produce one group outcome, upload it on the padlet and share the link here for evidence:
- 5–7 bullet point summary
- Photo of notes or Circle sketch
- 1–2 minute video or audio reflection
- The outcome must include:
- One key insight about unmet needs
- One connection between wellbeing and sustainability
- One implication for youth work practice
Tehtävä nro.2
Vastauksen vahvistanut: Yksi aktiviteetin järjestäjä
Individual Reflection - Transfer to Your Own Practice
After completing the station, submit an individual reflection focusing on implementation and professional development. Your reflection should address:
a) Practical Application
- Which of the four needs is easiest for me to support in my work? Why?
- Which need is most difficult to support in my context? Why?
- What structural or institutional barriers exist?
- What can I realistically implement immediately?
b) Methods & Activities - Which activities or methods I currently use support:
- Belonging?
- Mastery?
- Independence?
- Generosity?
- Where are gaps in my practice?
- What small adjustment could strengthen one unmet need?
c). Sustainability & Long-Term Engagement
- How does meeting basic needs influence long-term engagement?
- How can this model prevent burnout (for young people and for myself)?
- Where have I previously used pressure instead of need-support?
d) Professional Development
- What did I learn about my own behaviour as a youth worker?
- What would a more resilience-informed practice look like?
- What is one concrete change I will test within the next month?
Badgecraft isännöi tätä alustaa ja kehittää sitä yhdessä johtavien koulutusorganisaatioiden kanssa. Euroopan unionin Erasmus+ -ohjelmasta myönnettiin osarahoitusta tämän foorumin ensimmäisen version rakentamiseen. Ota yhteyttä [email protected].
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