The Virtues Project is a global initiative, inspiring the practice of virtues in everyday life. It’s founded on research into the world’s great wisdom traditions. Its goal is to enhance purpose and joy in our lives, create a culture of purpose and compassion, and to encourage generosity, respect, and justice in the community and the world.
Virtues can be defined as those qualities and inner resources that make our interactions, both large and small, more humane, just, supportive, and fruitful – both for our communities and ourselves.
Since 1991 Virtues Project techniques have been implemented within prevention, intervention, healing, and social justice programs in more than 65 countries. We believe that although values are culture specific, investigating what virtues are important to us and what virtues are missing in exploitative systems helps us hone our understanding of the challenges we face. They can also point to paths for healing and resiliency as we walk the path of activism.
The Five Strategies of The Virtues Project are tools for personal growth and healing and a path to deeper understanding and transformative action. They have inspired and mobilized people worldwide to commit acts of humanity and service, to heal violence, and to promote compassionate and just activism. When combined with Theatre of the Oppressed, these tools contribute to a sense of participant agency in defining what is most important to them and in goal setting. Boundary setting skills are practiced as crucial tools for emotional health while engaging in the difficult work of personal and societal transformation.