GlüGS project honoured with Social Impact Award

The project “Glückskompetenz in der Grundschule” (GlüGS) (Happiness skills in primary school) has been honoured with the Social Impact Award of the German-speaking umbrella organisation for positive psychology (Dach-PP). The first prize was awarded at the European Conference on Positive Psychology (ECPP) in Innsbruck to happiness researcher Tobias Rahm from Technische Universität Braunschweig and author Carina Mathes, who developed the project.

The Social Impact Award was presented to Tobias Rahm by Dr. Daniela Blickhan, Chairwoman of the Dach-PP. Photo credit: Angela Barzen

The DACH-PP Social Impact Award recognises outstanding projects that make a contribution to society through the use of positive psychology methods. The aim of the award is to promote and publicise approaches that sustainably improve people’s well-being and quality of life. It focuses particularly on socially disadvantaged groups and voluntary work.

More than 500 fourth-graders from 16 primary schools have taken part in the Braunschweig GlüGS project. In eleven happiness lessons, the children acquired knowledge and skills in a playful and creative way, which should contribute to a happy and successful life. In particular, topics such as sources of happiness, dealing with feelings, gratitude and mindfulness were covered.

The award was presented at the ECPP, which took place in Innsbruck from 10 to 13 July 2024. The conference is a platform for the exchange of research results and research projects in the field of positive psychology.

The Braunschweig happiness researcher Tobias Rahm initiated the GlüGS project as a research associate at TU Braunschweig. He is currently in charge of the new project “Psychische Gesundheit und Wohlbefinden Schulen“ (Mental health and well-being in schools) for the city of Braunschweig. His aim is still to prepare pupils for a happy and successful life and to teach the necessary skills at an early stage and in a structured manner.