Concentus Citizenship Education Foundation Inc. is the foundation that administers, supports, and fundraises for the development and advancement of the Concentus classroom-ready, kindergarten to grade 12 teaching resources for citizenship. A committed group of teacher-leaders developed these grade-specific resources to directly align with Social Science curricula.

The declared purpose of the Concentus Citizenship Education Foundation is to:

• Educate and empower individuals to understand their rights
• Encourage responsible, respectful and participatory citizenship
• Promote a commitment to justice in a pluralistic society.

Concentus was incorporated as a non-profit corporation on March 20, 2012, and continued as a federal not-for-profit corporation on November 23, 2016. Concentus is a registered charitable organization as recognized by Canada Revenue Agency as of February 21, 2017 (#8093 03332 RR0001).

The Responsibility Revolution

In response to the devastations of the first half of the twentieth century, the world initiated the “Rights Revolution.” Following the atrocities of the Second World War, the world collectively turned its mind to codifying the rights of citizens in order to protect and promote human rights. This was evidenced through the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In most democracies, the societal push for the codification and protection of individual rights was championed by citizens, and with the help of the judiciary, the rights of the individual became enshrined and understood throughout their civil societies. This is regarded as the “Rights Revolution”.

In the twenty-first century, we must continue the promotion and protection of human rights and democratic values that were born from the Rights Revolution. The complexities of the world today require a successive citizen-based revolution. Concentus labels this critical phase in world history the “Responsibility Revolution.”

For people to become the best citizen they can be, they must understand the importance of protecting and affirming individual rights, and must also understand the responsibilities associated with these rights. Leading research indicates that impactful Citizenship Education must focus on more than just explaining and promoting citizens’ “rights”. It must emphasize the action elements of citizenship – i.e. performing our “responsibilities” and demonstrating “respect.”

In order to preserve and advance the fundamental values, institutions and rights associated with a functional democracy, we need to create a citizen-to-citizen responsibility movement founded upon equal moral consideration for every human being. The best vehicle in which to support and facilitate the Responsibility Revolution is the education system as the concept of “responsibility” is a human construct, not a legal construct. The education system is the most meaningful way to empower youth to be active, engaged and critical citizens dedicated to preserving and advancing the ideals associated with Canada’s democratic society. Concentus seeks to empower youth by providing the fundamental tools to enable them to champion the Responsibility Revolution and ensure the continuation of the democratic values and principles Canadians and citizens all over the world cherish.