Happiness labHaving Fun by doing Good

Rezekne social change hub. Change the world one smile at a time.

Happiness lab• A social business, which organizes charity events of all

kinds (concerts, exhibitions, workshops, parties, seminars etc.)

• An organization that brings positive social change in all its diverse forms

• Incubator for friendship. Forge and strengthen bonds of friendship among diverse groups of people. Building community.

• A collective whose aim is to increase happiness in our town, especially happiness of people who are in the direst need for it – the poor, the marginalized, the oppressed, the lonely, the friendless.

The 7 principles of Social Business

• Business objective will be to overcome poverty, or one or more problems (such as education, health, technology access, and environment) which threaten people and society; not profit maximization.

• Financial and economic sustainability.• Investors get back their investment amount only. No

dividend is given beyond investment money.• When investment amount is paid back, company profit stays

with the company for expansion and improvement.• Environmentally conscious.• Workforce gets market wage with better working conditions.• ...do it with joy.

What we aim to do• Celebrate people – Party for a Cause –Throw parties for people

who don’t get parties thrown for them or are in the most need for comfort, support, encouragement e.g. Marginalized groups – people with a disability, poor families etc.

• Try to bring smile to peoples’ faces – improvs, flash mobs, art, street performances and street parties;

• Happiness mob - Organize volunteering i.e. 1000h volunteering project e.g. 10h community service = ticket or two to a concert

• MOBilize folks to help people in need, bring people together to create positive social change in the community

• Strengthen the local community by supporting local initiatives, local artists, local NGO’s, local small businesses - ALL LOCAL DO-GOODERS.

• Research – What actually makes people happy? Is it Love, actually or what!?

Why?

• Happiness deficit (no evidence necessary)• If we can make someones day a little better,

ellicit even a single smile it would all be worth it

• Move forward one smile at a time. • Bobby Kennedy «People see things as they are

and ask why. I dream things that never were and ask why not»

Where?In this cute little church

Church is a place of connection, togetherness and mutual care, when you realize you actually need other people, you need God’s love.

This all kinda weird? Parties in the Church and so on.

• Mēs visi esam līdzīgi – mēs parasti vēlamies vienu un to pašu vienā un tajā pašā laikā. Visi tagad klausāmies Adeli, gribam braukt ar Teslu vai BMW i8, fanojam par Porziņģi. Tas ir bet reizē arī diezgan

• Viss, kas ir atšķirīgs ir mazliet dīvains• Tieši Atšķirīgais, savādais, mūsu trūkumi un nepilnības padara mūs

unikālus – interesantus, padara mūs par personību, padara mūs par sevi pašu.

• Viss atšķirīgais savādais ir skaists. Savādi skaists.• Embrace the weird. Pieņem savus trūkumus – savādo sevī un citos,

pieņem sevi pašu tāds kāds tu esi un tu būsi laimīgs• Mums vajag vairāk savādā mūsu dzīvē• Keep Austin/Portland weird• Rēzekne is not weird enough – I want to make Rēzekne weirder.

Biblical explanation

• Ja mēs darām kādam labu, iepriecinām cilvēkus, parādam viņiem rūpes, sniedzam kādu kripatiņu mīlestības – tad mēs daram Dieva darbu, I think

• Matt 25:40 Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me

More activities• Do something campaigns• Homo Ecos• Socifaction buddies• Better together – know your neighbour, social capital building• Cilvēku bibliotēka• Improv everywhere• Finnish NGO yhteismaa stuff• Streets Alive UK • Talk to a stranger day • Roman Krznaric empathy – outrospection week• Exhibitions, workshops, concerts, meditation, seminars• The Room of Requirement – The floor is yours do whatcha want• Eventually a cafe’, social center upstairs PERHAPS

Having fun by doing good! Do good whilst having fun!