"He was always friendly, calm, and had a smile on his face"
The Mensch Like Melvin Project is the charity’s foundational initiative.
Its purpose is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: every person has the capacity to be a mensch, and children, in particular, can be inspired to recognise the positive impact their actions have on themselves, on others, and on their wider community.
What's a "mensch"?
A Yiddish word meaning a person of honour, kindness, and good character — someone who does the right thing, simply because it's right.
The project aims not only to encourage the next generation to act with kindness, empathy and responsibility, but also to help them experience the real‑world benefits of mensch‑like behaviour. Through structured learning, reflection and celebration, children are supported to understand how their choices shape the world around them.
Schools participating in the project will learn about who Melvin was, the values he lived by, and the meaningful impact he had on the lives of others. They will explore examples of mensch‑like behaviour and discuss the personal and communal benefits of acting with compassion, integrity and mutual respect.
Each school will then launch its own programme, embedding the principles of being a mensch into everyday school life. At the end of every term, the school will select a ‘Termly Mensch’ — a young person who has demonstrated outstanding mensch‑like behaviour.
The chosen pupil will share why they were selected and reflect on the impact their actions had on themselves and those around them. As part of this recognition, they will receive a Mensch Like Melvin award bundle, to celebrate the positive impact of their actions.