Date : 2026-03-10
Earlier, Wofoo Social Enterprises facilitated an exchange programme between Hong Kong and Bhutan, using interfaith dialogue and multi-dimensional cultural exchange to rethink the true meaning of “Happiness” in an urban context. During the visit, Bhutanese monks and religious, education, and community leaders from Hong Kong came together to hold in-depth conversations on topics such as spiritual well-being, youth development, and environmental and cultural conservation, sharing how they practice care and inclusion in different city settings.
Since 2015, HK.WeCARE, one of the platform of Wofoo initiative has conducted the “Hong Kong General Happiness Index” study, using scientific methods to measure Hong Kong people’s levels of happiness and depression. It also analyses factors such as psychological capital, personal values, satisfaction with the social environment, and self-rated health, providing long-term data on local well-being. These studies enable Hong Kong to better understand the sources of happiness and the challenges faced by citizens in a high-pressure city, and they also serve as important reference points for this Bhutan exchange.
Bhutan, meanwhile, is regarded as a pioneer in adopting “Gross National Happiness” (GNH) as a guiding principle for national development. As early as the 1970s, the fourth King declared that “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product”, and the country’s constitution requires the state to create conditions for happiness through its policies. Beyond economic growth, Bhutan places equal emphasis on spiritual, cultural, ecological, and good-governance values, making it a global exemplar in the field of happiness indicators.
This exchange enables Hong Kong to draw inspiration from Bhutan’s GNH philosophy and to connect it with local happiness index research. Through interfaith, cross-sector, and cross-cultural dialogue, the partners explore—from the angles of policy, community practice, family, and personal growth—how to infuse the city with a more human-centred “essence of happiness”, opening a new chapter for future collaboration and exchange.
#Social Advocacy & Entrepreneurship #LoveandCare #HappinessIndex #GNH #HongKongHappinessIndex #FamilyHappinessIndex
