Why Education?

If we expect young people to be the next leaders in the world and actually heal some of the screaming issues, it’s not enough to teach math, science and language. Happiness (grounded in social and emotional Learning SEL) is a more telling indicator of lifelong success. The Project Happiness Handbook, which grew out of the film, combines the best of timeless wisdom, positive psychology, neuroscience, and conflict resolution. It has over 70 experiential activities and guides readers on a transformational journey to self awareness, stress reduction, empowerment, and global literacy. It also provides practical solutions that can be used in day to day living. Those students fortunate enough to learn happiness skills will benefit greatly throughout their lives, and have the tools to make better choices in all situations.

People can learn to be happier. Dr Richard Davidson, the neuroscientist compares cultivating happiness to learning to play tennis. You won’t be at Wimbledon the first week, but with practice, practice, practice you can become a pretty proficient player. Similarly, with practice, people can learn to access their own happiness in ways they may not have even known. The Project Happiness Handbook and curriculum is now being used by students in California, Canada, India, Nigeria, Nepal and Guatemala to great effect. The goal of Project Happiness is to eventually have the curriculum in every country in the world, touching lives and setting the foundation for a generation that is more compassionate with themselves and one another.

Participants’ Voices

“I enjoyed Project Happiness because it allowed me to reflect upon my thoughts and notice how I am built emotionally. It helped me understand myself so that I could become a more positive person.”

“Recently I went through an anger stage, and I just stepped back, took a deep breath, and realized that it wasn’t worth getting upset over the situation. Project Happiness taught me the tools to do that. Thank you for everything!”

“I couldn’t be more happier to realize who I am and what I represent and that I shouldn’t be afraid to be myself or be different than my friends, that being different makes me unique.”

“I just wanted to tell you that this work is honest, and incredibly meaningful and helps people like me believe that there is hope. (Especially during those times when I feel all hope is lost.)”

Teachers Speak

“… a great set of resources and walk throughs of emotional intelligence and self awareness of inner struggles and conflicts and how that can relate at the levels of families, communities or nations. It also harmonizes with International Baccalaureate’s goals for diversity of ways of thinking and understanding across cultures.”

“Project Happiness could be offered as a whole course, but could also be woven into many different courses like health, psychology, humanities, sociology, global citizenship…”

“It definitely gets the kids’ attention. It’s highly engaging … and that’s an understatement.”