On Thursday, 27 March, we had an unforgettable evening at the Theatre Hall of the Delavski dom in Trbovlje. The event marked the conclusion of the Escape to Happiness project and was filled with inspiration, warmth and connection – just as we had envisioned.
The evening was hosted by Nik Škrlec, whose sparkling humour and playful energy set the tone from the very beginning. He immediately engaged the audience with a lively mental warm-up. His relaxed and witty approach brought everyone together into a shared story – a collective journey in pursuit of happiness.
The evening’s keynote guest, renowned psychotherapist Dr Zoran Milivojević, delivered a thought-provoking talk titled The Anatomy of Well-being and took us on a journey into the depths of understanding happiness. His words inspired deep reflection on how we can each contribute, day by day, to our own happiness and that of others.
Different people. Different stories. What is happiness, really? Is it a moment shared with loved ones? A burst of laughter over a cup of coffee? Or perhaps the fulfilment of a long-pursued goal?
But we didn’t just talk about happiness – we experienced it! Attendees had the opportunity to try out the project’s very own educational escape room. By solving puzzles together and collaborating, we demonstrated that happiness is greatest when it is shared. You can catch glimpses of the escape room experience in the video (in Slovenian) we’ve prepared.
The project yielded significant outcomes with long-term potential for strengthening mental health and adult well-being. As part of the project, a skills matrix and an adapted version of Bloom’s taxonomy were developed, both serving as essential tools for identifying the knowledge, skills and behaviours that support well-being. In addition, we published a booklet featuring 40 examples of best practices for fostering happiness, created a training programme for educators – available in digital format via the educational e-platform – and developed an interactive escape room, The Secret Garden of Serenity, which many enthusiastic participants experienced (all in Slovenian). These are just some of the many outcomes that inspire us to continue spreading the positive impact of the project.
As the evening drew to a close, we looked back with gratitude on the journey we had taken together. Escape to Happiness was not merely a project – it was a true adventure, one that enriched us with new insights, friendships and joyful moments.
May our search for happiness continue!
More highlights are available in our photo gallery.
Polona Trebušak (polona.trebusak@zlu.si), Zasavje AEC
