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A Season of Gratitude
 | | Randy speaking at Gunn High School |
As Thanksgiving comes upon us, it's a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with what we are grateful for. It does not have to be anything grand: the smile on someone's face, a crisp blue-sky day, a gorgeous piece of pumpkin pie! There is a tradition some families have around Thanksgiving. Everyone around the table takes turns in saying what they appreciate. It is amazing to see how quickly the atmosphere turns positive and caring. Gratitude brings out he best in everyone.
Here's a happiness challenge: choose one day a week every single week for a "gratitude dinner". Each person around the table has to say what they are grateful for in their own life and what they appreciate about the person sitting next to them. There is no doubt that good feelings will ensue.
At Project Happiness we have much to be grateful for too. The film has taken off with screenings all over the world. What is most moving are the personal stories that are emerging from audience members. One poignant example is a student who, inspired by a scene in the film, had an emotional reconciliation with an estranged friend directly after the screening. Two lives were changed that evening. On the educational front, our free curriculum is being adopted in such diverse places as Singapore, Poland, India and France, not to mention right here in our own back yard.
In this season of gratitude, I wish you and your loved ones great gratitude, and a heart full of joy.
With love and all best wishes,
Randy
Founder, Project Happiness
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Tibet House US to host Benefit Screening of Project Happiness Film
 | | Project Happiness |
Tonight (Thursday, November 10th) Tibet House US will be hosting a screening of the Project Happiness film to benefit Tibetan Home of Hope, a nonsectarian home and school for children who would otherwise be abandoned. It is a home where young people receive loving care, education, food, shelter, medical attention and the practical foundation needed to develop into independent adults with a full appreciation of their Tibetan heritage.
Following the screening there will be a Q&A session with Project Happiness founder Randy Taran. Randy will be joined by the former Tibetan Children's Village instructor featured in the Project Happiness film, Yeshi Khando. This event is open to the public. For more information please visit the Tibet House web site - TibetHouse.us |
Project Happiness Launches Year Long Program in India
 | | Girls in Project Happiness program in India |
Project Happiness has just launched a yearlong program for teens from the urban slums of Delhi. We are delighted to welcome Vibha, PH Director of India, and founder of Muskaan.
Vibha is working with 38 boys and girls, 11th and 12th graders, who are learning the social and emotional skills to cultivate a happiness that comes from the inside, regardless of external circumstances. In their very first lesson they covered:
1) Overview of PH & filling the PH pre-assessment forms
2) Introduction of participants in pairs, using leaf, as an object to focus of self
3 )Hopes and fears from the yearlong workshop
4) What is Happiness - individual reflection followed by sharing in small groups and then writing it on paper
5) Reflecting on any new learning from the session and closing.
Vibha's wish is to prepare a team of 3-4 persons in her non-governmental organization (NGO) as well as some of the boys and girls from this group, as peer facilitators. The team from her NGO can then start it in other schools and other NGO groups. This way they can expand to reach more teachers and children. Ghandi stated, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Vibha and her students are doing just that while creating future with "Agents of Happiness" to spread the message of hope and connection. Happiness is contagious and we are very excited about this work!
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Emily Crubaugh, Original Project Happiness Student, Joins the Team!
 | | Emily visitis students in Nigeria |
Some of you might recognize the newest member of the Project Happiness team. Emily Crubaugh is one of the original students from Mount Madonna who participated in the Project Happiness film. After graduating high school, Emily was so inspired by Emmanuel and his work in Africa that she and her family traveled to Nigeria where they set up computer labs for Creative Minds International Academy as well as several other schools in the area.
This spring, Emily graduated from Brown University with a B.A. in Development Studies. While at Brown, she headed up BRYTE (Brown Refugee Youth Tutoring and Enrichment), an organization of more than 120 volunteers working with 50 refugee families in the Providence community.
Utilizing her experience with BRYTE, Emily is joining the Project Happiness team as our volunteer coordinator. She will be recruiting, training and managing our volunteer base both in the Project Happiness office as well as throughout the world. If you would like to speak to Emily about volunteer opportunities, please email her at Emily@ProjectHappiness.com.
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About Us
Project Happiness, a 501(c)3 organization, specializes in emotional resilience-building programs that are used by people of any age and endorsed by public schools, private institutions and universities around the U.S. and the world. Our purpose is to provide proven techniques to cultivate one's own authentic happiness.
Drawn from research in positive psychology and neuroscience, Project Happiness' strength-based approach teaches vital social and emotional skills. Using books, film and educational programs, we're empowering children, families and communities to create happier, more meaningful lives.
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