Have you ever heard of a country giving away free trips to teach people how to be happy? Well, Finland is doing just that!
Yes, Finland, the land of happy children and the Northern Lights, is giving away free trips to people from all over the world to teach them how to be happy after being consistently ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world. Now, they want to share their happiness secrets with everyone.
The Nordic country topped the UN’s World Happiness Report 2023, which considers income, health, freedom, and more.
Happiness ‘masterclass’
If you’ve ever wondered what life is like in a country like that, 10 lucky individuals will have the opportunity to participate in Finland’s four-day Masterclass of Happiness from 12 to 15 June 2023, run by the country’s tourism organisation Visit Finland.
The programme called ‘Finding Your Inner Finn’ will see happy candidates explore Kuru Resort, a free private retreat in the Finnish Lakeland region with stunning flora and fauna. Each guest will have access to his or her own private villa complete with a sauna, spa, and breathtaking views of the surrounding pine forests.
You can spend time with nature and get in touch with the heart of Finnish culture by participating in activities like getting to know the Lake District and exploring the rich forests. One of the main reasons Finns are happier than average is because they have easy access to nature, making this an important topic for discussion in the masterclass.
One catch for this once-in-a-lifetime experience is that participants must consent to be filmed for Visit Finland’s advertising purposes.
How to apply
Those who would like to join must submit an application through the Visit Finland website.
Interested travellers need to fill out a form and complete a social media challenge posting on Instagram and TikTok about why they want to take the masterclass and why “you may secretly be a Finn.” Share the post using the hashtags #FindYourInnerFinn and #VisitFinland to increase your chances of getting into the programme.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply. The application process welcomes individuals and pairs. The deadline for applications is 2 April 2023 — just a few more days!
Visit Finland says the masterclass will be available online later this summer for those who weren’t selected to attend.
Meanwhile, Malaysia has been ranked 55 on the World Happiness Index 2023 Report with a score of 6.012, placing us at among the happiest countries in Southeast Asia.
