Brought up and educated in Brazzaville, The Congo, by missionaries. A war has broken out... Everything is destroyed, the town devastated, there is nothing to be found anywhere. However with courage the sisters go back to work, open the nursery and primary schools without any materials. They send out an SOS to ex-pupils of which I am one. Since that time I am running around the shops with my limited means of a retired person. Paints, folding books, etc. etc.... meetings with the people who will carry my packages to Brazza. And in return I receive letters and drawings from little children thanking me and calling me godmother and sometimes mother, this is happiness !!!
How to propagate the Virus of Happiness?
In fact, it's quite simple !
- Answer this question; "What makes, or has made you, happy?" and become a Happiness Agent
- You earn some "Points Of Presence" (POP)
- You invest your Points in the city of your choice
- You spead the Virus of Happiness around the world.
What is the virus of happiness and how it works?
About Happython
Happython was founded in 1998 on this simple question: "What makes you, or has made you, happy?".
The answers of many people were printed and then exposed-pinned on clothes dryers called "Porte-Bonheurs".
These exhibitions took place in galleries, public places, post offices and finally on the web.
The idea of a Happening Record of happy moments has germinated: the Happython and the Happiness Virus have been created!
For more than 20 years, tens of thousands of people between the ages of 2 and 109 from all over the world have testified about what makes them happy.
Now it’s your turn!
The answers of many people were printed and then exposed-pinned on clothes dryers called "Porte-Bonheurs".
These exhibitions took place in galleries, public places, post offices and finally on the web.
The idea of a Happening Record of happy moments has germinated: the Happython and the Happiness Virus have been created!
For more than 20 years, tens of thousands of people between the ages of 2 and 109 from all over the world have testified about what makes them happy.
Now it’s your turn!
What makes them or has made them happy?
What makes me happy is spending time with my friends, going out with them, sharing my deepest thoughts with them and feeling their trust.
Fabrice , 18 years old, Marseille (France)
What makes me happy is to be at the bottom of a mountain, a hill…watching the top and say to it: “see you soon”… To walk, sweat, breath, sometimes to suffer a little… and reach the top and think: “I've done it, thank you”. Just a challenge with nature. This is one of the most wonderful things in the world.
What makes me happy, a great privelege in my heart, when my little 4-year-old friend, Joey, takes my hand, taking this gesture of love from this child who moves me, but completely... I become gaga with...
Hélène , 51 years old, Shawinigan (Canada)What makes me happy is seeing the popcorn head of my love waking up.
Hélène , 30 years old, Lyon (France)My happiness has already lasted for a long time. It renews itself every morning when I go to sample a cup of tea in one of the many Parisian cafés. It's a moment of pure joy, I let myself lapse into dreams in the ambiance of the cafes, and I can no longer do without it.
Nicole , 57 years old, Paris (France)My relationship makes me very happy. I really have the impression that I create that every day. What allowed me to live this relationship, was when I started to respect myself and to listen to myself. Of course the other person senses that and naturally comes to you without effort. Afterwards the secret is not to tie the net, not to become a living prison, but on the contrary to open up the space with kind attention and love. Programme for a beautiful relationship: - Respect it – Listen to oneself (and the other too !) – Encourage light thoughts towards the other – Continue as if you were alone - Love the other person tenderly - Have fun together.
What makes me happy is reading every little bit of joy in my children's eyes.
Solange , 31 years old, Lyon (France)What makes me happy is to talk to people and to learn something from them.
Sofiane , 30 years old, Béjaïa (Algérie)
What makes me happy is little everyday moments like for example : sitting on the edge of a lake and contemplating nature, horsebackriding in the woods, among other examples.
Carine , 32 years old, Granby (Canada)
What makes me happy is the generosity of people who support Florence Aubenas and Hussein Hanoun. Finally solidarity doesn't end.
Lulu , 21 years old, Aubenas (France)What made me happy lately was to hear that I was pregnant after so many fruitless attempts.
Christine , 35 years old, Liège (Belgique)What makes me happiest is the love of my future husband who, despite leukemia, helps me to get through life.
Lucie , 33 years old, Deux-Montagnes (Canada)What makes me happy: to know that even far away, we can count on friends !
Vanessa , 21 years old, Rome (Italie)What made me happy is when I was offered a chimpanzee, which was my dearest dream.
Ophélie , 21 years old, Valenciennes (France)What makes me happy is having discovered Happython planet ! and sharing my happiness with others. I have hope for the best days.
Sandra , 27 years old, Paris (France)
What makes me happy is when there is music on the streets or in the metro. It gives me the impression that the quick steps of hurried people are in rhythm on the tempo, like an urban choreography !
Sandy , 19 years old, Toulouse (France)After going on holidays alone, I come back home and I find my dog. It makes me happy.
Myriam , 19 years old, Longjumeau (France)
Just now (apart from my wonderful family) the position of France, Germany, Russia, China and of course Belgium on the crisis in Irak, which shows there is some hope left. It gives me an immense happiness.
Thierry , 34 years old, Grez-Doiceau (Belgique)I'm a naturally happy person because I've learnt to see only the nice and positive side of what happens.
Mustapha , 56 years old, Oran (Algérie)What made me happy was to spend my birthday evening with my son and his girlfriend, and tomorrow it will be the same with my sister and her husband. Hurray for the family!
Josette , 52 years old, Saint-Nicolas (Belgique)A particular moment in the summer of 2002 really made me happy. My father and I went fishing to the little river going near my childhood's village, in rocky canyons. He fishes with the hand since he was a little boy and this year I was also successful when I got a fish with my hand. The atmosphere and this moment of complicity both made me reach heaven.
Françoise , 22 years old, Vietri di Potenza (Italie)When something wonderful appears in my life. Coincidences, signs, dreams which become reality with the impression that it's life which is organizing everything, lucid dreams.
I am happy to have a large family and a girlfriend who shares my vision. I am happy to have a lucky star in my life professionally, financially, and for leisure, love and health.
What makes me happy ? The successful moments, the nice memories from my childhood.
Samia , 24 years old, Nabeul (Tunisie)feel like the Tibetan climbing the sacred mountain ! Happiness is not the end of the path, but happiness is the very path.
Brigitte , 49 years old, Nivelles (Belgique)
What makes me happy is being with my family, spending time together, feeling all of their love, expressing how I feel, telling them, showing them.
Yves , 55 years old, Eragny (France)What makes me happy is seeing my bunny thanks to the webcam.
Jonathan , 31 years old, Bordeaux (France)
What makes me happy is meeting passionate people. They always lend me an admiration like an imprint of their ardor, of their taste for life and love.
Carole , 27 years old, Lyon (France)What makes my happy is that , currently, I only come across friendly people : the optician and her manager, the sales assistants of the sporting goods store ,of the hardware store and at the cultural goods (cds, dvds, books and video games) and craft arts stores , and the waiters and cashiers at the chinese restaurant).
Maxime , 28 years old, Amiens (France)What makes me happy is to be sitting outside a café with nothing to do but let my mind wander (daydream), sip my drink and watch people walk by.
Catherine , 47 years old, Bruxelles (Belgique)What makes me happy, a great privelege in my heart, when my little 4-year-old friend, Joey, takes my hand, taking this gesture of love from this child who moves me, but completely... I become gaga with...
Hélène , 51 years old, Shawinigan (Canada)What makes me happy is to listen to Danièle's music, dance the tarentelle and tammurriata and sing with my friends (especially napolitean songs).
Anna , 45 years old, Naples (Italie)What makes me the happiest is to see the people I love happy.
Noélie , 16 years old, Mons (Belgique)What makes me happy is to have come study french, start to understand it and eat Korean meals.
Chang-Hun , 23 years old, Bastia (France)
What has made me happy for 30 years is to live with an exceptional woman who is my wife, my friend, my confidante and my mistress all at the same time.
Rida , 55 years old, Sfax (Tunisie)
What made me happy was seeing whales in the distance spitting water, indifferent to the spectators sitting around a fire on this Zipolite beach.
Aude , 28 years old, Lyon (France)Each morning on my way to work, I read the newspaper and I hurry up to read the Happython. Often I find myself in what was said. Today, it's my turn. What makes me happy is going to bed early and waking up late when I don't have to work.
Aline , 45 years old, Villepinte (France)What makes me happy is that I'm in good health, I'm active, I've got good morals, and I rarely get angry!
Brahim , 36 years old, Agadir (Maroc)The smile of a child after an X-ray treatment… A baby holding out his hand… All that makes me happy!!
Laure , 34 years old, Blois (France)To feel the blending of warmth and cool in a summer evening, to drink a cool beer, to eat spiced olives, to hear my friends laugh, for me, that is happiness (in summer).
Emilie , 22 years old, Montpellier (France)To be happy, I need calm and tranquillity, to be loved and love, sunshine and perfect happiness ( a little water, some fruit, my garden on my island) and peace in the world.
Marie-Émilie , 54 years old, Bruxelles (Belgique)What makes me happy is feeling so small in front of a stormy ocean, smelling the spray on my face : I simply feel content, and I realize the futility of all my little everyday worries.
Marcelle , 62 years old, Québec (Canada)The happiest day of my live was when I left the hole I was hidden in for a month during the war in Rwanda. That day, the sun shone like it will no longer and the breeze was a caress that no man has ever given me. It was June 21, 1994 around 3 :00 p.m. I was 14.
Prisca , 26 years old, Brunoy (France)What makes me happy is that I have found a bigger appartment that mine for the same price in the region where I am moving (a region where real estate is normally more expensive than in my region).
Maxime , 28 years old, Amiens (France)What makes me happy is to stop and enjoy a few quiet moments in my very busy life, so I can think of the distance covered, trials, moments of joy, and then I think that life is great!
43 years old, Waremme (Belgique)The day when my daughter Nouha was born, on July 4th, 2004 made me happy.
Saadane , 31 years old, Ferdjioua (Algérie)This is great !! The virus of happiness !! I'd like to give you my own definition of happiness... : “Happinees is like a butterfly. If you run after it, it will escape... But if you let it be, it will land softly on your shoulder...”
Louise , 42 years old, Chicoutimi (Canada)What makes me happy is that, despite all the world's problems, there are at least 20318 happy people.
Audrey , 18 years old, Bordeaux (France)For you I am not merely a thing, my happiness is you, Pilou.
Katie , 46 years old, Bruxelles (Belgique)What does make me happy is to watch the waves lapping on the fine sand
Nadine , 33 years old, Mons (Belgique)What makes me happy is telling myself that, whatever happens, if we separate or find each other again, whatever time passes, no one will be able to erase our most cherished memories.
Charlotte , 16 years old, Strasbourg (France)What makes me happy is feeling so small in front of a stormy ocean, smelling the spray on my face : I simply feel content, and I realize the futility of all my little everyday worries.
Soizic , 24 years old, Montréal (Canada)What makes me happy at this moment is that I have got rid of everything in Paris, my job and a hard life, to retire and live in Tunisia at a wonderful man's side.
Françoise , 52 years old, Rades (Tunisie)What makes me happy is to please to my parents so that they are proud of me. Thank you Dad and Mum, I'm madly in love with you!!!
I'm happy every morning when my man snuggles up to me saying: “good morning, darling, I'm here next to you”. I shiver.
What makes me happy is cracking my toes in bed instead of studying math during that time.
Ronan , 19 years old, Marseille (France)What made me happy was when she showed me the stars and blew on my neck to warm me up.
Rémi , 19 years old, Ferte-Bernard (France)
Happiness for me is to get miraculously cured of my disease.
Raynald , 50 years old, Roubaix (France)What makes me happy is reading happython every morning in class. That puts me in a good mood for the rest of the day.
Laure , 20 years old, Lyon (France)Surprising a little sparrow while he's taking a bath in a puddle of water, that's what makes me really happy.
Céline , 22 years old, Langoiran (France)What made me happy : learn that Caro and Math are excepting a baby !
Vanessa , 21 years old, Rome (Italie)