Character Trait | Courage

Courage is demonstrated by heroes from across the globe in these featured films, art and stories. The quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger and do something even when there is a risk is at the core of the character trait of courage. Meet remarkable heroes through these films, art and stories, and create a dialogue with your students on the importance of practicing courage in our daily lives.

Students read the following stories and view the short films about individuals who had the courage to fight against racial injustice and made a positive difference.

Berta Cáceres was born to a native Lenca community in southwestern Honduras and worked her whole life as an environmental and human rights advocate. Máxima Acuña, a subsistence farmer in Peru’s northern highlands, stood up to the  Colorado-based Newmont Mining Corporation over the development of a gold and copper mine on her property.

Additional Stories and Films about Heroes who Demonstrate Courage

Learn about Iqbal Masih, a 12-year-old who fought for his rights and the rights of his fellow child workers through film and stories. One story has text and audio allowing students to listen as they read along. There is also a link to the story in Spanish. 

Read the following stories about individuals who had the courage to fight against racial injustice. The story written by Muhammad Ali about his hero Nelson Mandela has text and audio so students can listen as they read along. 

Students view one or more of the following short films that highlight individuals who demonstrate courage to make a positive difference. 

When a village begins to have the stones from their bridge stolen each side of the village starts to blame one another for stealing the stones. This story shows the power of forgiveness and courage when the villagers step forward and confess that they had all stolen stones from the bridge. Both sides of the village come together to rebuild the bridge and peace is restored within their community.

MY HERO International Film Festival Winner Words Have Power is about a 10 year old girl who rallied her community to protest the health effects that a local power plant had on their community and succeeded in having the plant close.

Security is mostly a superstition.
It does not exist in nature,
nor do the children of men 
as a whole experience it.
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run 
than outright exposure.
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
To keep our faces toward change and
behave like free spirits
in the presence of fate 
is strength undefeatable.

by Helen Keller
Let Us Have Faith (1940)

We honor those who have the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger and do something even when there is a risk is at the core of the character trait of courage. Please share your story about a hero you know who shows the power of courage. 

Sign the MY HERO guestbook and share your story.