Courage in Action

Begin by briefly sharing Greta Thunberg’s story, highlighting her courage to stand up for climate justice. Key points include:

• At 15 years old, she started skipping school on Fridays to protest outside the Swedish Parliament, demanding action on climate change.
• Despite criticism and significant personal challenges, her persistence inspired a global youth movement, Fridays for Future.
• Greta’s courage lies in her ability to disrupt societal norms and challenge inaction on climate issues, using her voice to make a difference.

Ask the group to take a few minutes to reflect on their own core values.
Use prompts like:

• “What issue or value matters most to you?”
• “What inspires you to take a stand, even when it’s difficult?”

Encourage each person to write down one value they feel strongly about and an example of a situation where they acted (or wanted to act) courageously to uphold that value.

In small groups, discuss how Greta’s actions connect to the values she stood for (e.g., environmental justice, intergenerational equity, honesty).

Create a “Courage Map” as a group by identifying potential barriers to standing up for values (e.g., fear of judgment, lack of support) and ways to overcome them (e.g., finding allies, staying informed, practicing self-compassion).

Role-play a scenario where individuals must stand up for their values in the face of opposition. Examples might include:

• Defending sustainable practices in a school or community meeting.
• Challenging a peer or family member’s misunderstanding of climate issues.

After each simulation, discuss:

• “How did it feel to stand up for your values?”
• “What strategies helped you stay courageous?”

Ask each person to identify a small, real-life action they can take to uphold their values in the coming weeks. This could be:

• Speaking up in a group discussion.
• Organizing a small awareness campaign.
• Writing to local leaders about a climate issue.

Gather as a group and reflect:

• “What did Greta’s story teach us about courage?”
• “How can we channel her courage to take action in our own lives?”
• “What support do we need from each other to stay committed?”