"Diplomacy of Happiness" Unites International Delegations at the World Public Summit: Africa

On July 29 - 30, 2026, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia hosted an exhibition "Diplomacy of Happiness: From Heart to Heart, from Person to Person, from Idea to Image" held as part of the World Public Summit: Africa.

The venue, organized by the Department of Happiness of the World Peoples Assembly, became one of the focal points of the Summit, drawing considerable interest from participants and international delegations.

The exhibition introduced guests to the key initiatives of the Department of Happiness, including:

• The International Festival "The World Paints Happiness";

• The International Campaign "Letters of Happiness";

• The International Project "Diplomacy of Happiness";

• The magazine "Happiness Aggregator";

• The International Program "Ambassadors of Happiness".

The visual design of the venue was built around competition entries from participants of the International Festival "The World Paints Happiness". The exhibition presented artworks from 44 countries. The vibrant and expressive design helped engage visitors in a lively dialogue about the values that unite people regardless of borders, cultures, or languages.

The keynote speaker and public face of the Department of Happiness projects was the young friend and partner of the Assembly, head of the volunteer corps "Invisible Wings", leader of the youth branch of the international movement "Ambassadors of Happiness", and a student at HSE University – Platon Mersiyanov. At the opening of the exhibition, he said:

- Today, it is especially important to create spaces where people from different countries can speak to each other in the language of trust, kindness, and shared human values. The Department of Happiness projects bring generations together and give young people the opportunity to take part in humanitarian initiatives that make the world more open, meaningful, and humane.

He paid particular attention to the magazine "Happiness Aggregator", which has evolved from a print publication into a full-fledged platform for exchanging experience, hosting expert meetings, and publishing research on societal well‑being.

The interactive elements of the exhibition drew great interest from Summit guests. During the days the stand was open, visitors had the chance to join the International Campaign "Letters of Happiness". The idea of postcards based on drawings from the festival "The World Paints Happiness" was conceived five years ago by the Secretary‑General of the World Peoples Assembly, Andrey Belyaninov.

- This is not just a souvenir, but a symbol of friendship that you can keep as a memento or send to someone close to you, - many guests noted.

All those interested were also invited to write their own "formulas of happiness" on the stand using colorful markers. This simple and heartfelt format fostered an atmosphere of trust and allowed participants to share their personal values. Among the messages, themes of family, friendship, and peace were especially prominent: "Happiness is a healthy family, love, and peace"; "Happiness is kindness, openness, and love, peace and prosperity throughout the world."

The work of the venue facilitated the establishment of new international contacts and discussions on prospects for cultural and educational exchanges. Summit participants showed strong interest in the Department of Happiness programs, as well as in issues of societal well‑being, personal happiness, and a meaningful life.

Within the Summit, long‑standing partners of the World Peoples Assembly – representatives of HSE University and speakers of the World Public Summit: Africa visited the Russian House in Addis Ababa. Irina Mersiyanova, Director of the Centre for Civil Society and Non‑Profit Sector Research at HSE University; Vyacheslav Ivanov, Chief Expert of the Centre; and Platon Mersiyanov discussed opportunities for developing and implementing joint initiatives and projects. They also presented the magazine "Happiness Aggregator", which was added to the collection of publications displayed at the Russian House in Addis Ababa.

The "Diplomacy of Happiness" exhibition at the World Public Summit in Africa demonstrated that humanitarian cooperation, creativity, and open human dialogue can serve as a solid foundation for mutual understanding, friendship, and joint international initiatives.

For additional information, please visit the official website of the World Peoples Assembly or contact media@world-assembly.org.