Magda Nieto

Designing and living Experiences

Madeca Ltda October 25, 2012

Filed under: Colombia — magdanieto @ 1:11 am

Madeca Ltda

New Logo

 

“Forget Coffee and Cocaine, Colombia Has a New Export – Happiness” September 26, 2012

Filed under: Colombia,Experience — magdanieto @ 2:45 pm
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This is an article written by the ABC News, wrote last week about what Colombia have to offer now. Is The Happy Post Project, which is very emotive and totally true, Colombia is full of happiness and we love to share it!

“I want Colombia to be known as an exporter of happiness…rather than as an exporter of drugs,” Mario Chamorro, the director of the Make it Happy Foundation, told me in a recent phone conversation. That might sound improbable, but then again, so is the story of Mario Chamorro.

Born in rural Pasto, Colombia (next to an active volcano, he likes to add), Mario left home to study in Bogotá and eventually ended up working on social initiatives for the government of President Alvaro Uribe. While many considered him to have “made it,” Mario had bigger dreams and soon left for the U.S. He learned English while parking cars and waiting tables in Boston and was eventually accepted to the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University.

We first met when he was coordinating social events as president of the student association. It was apparent then that he had a gift for bringing people together and making them happy, but it would take a few years for him to dedicate himself to the effort full-time.

After getting his master’s degree, Mario worked in the energy, finance and health industries. He was good at everything he did but nothing seemed to fully click. During the financial crisis, he lost his job, broke up with his girlfriend and, last year, was diagnosed with cancer. Combined, these events pushed him to ponder the single question that led to his big idea. What makes you happy?

One of Mario’s first projects involved asking people to draw or write something that made them happy on a post-it note. “The Happy Post Project” started as a fun way to meet people at a bar but soon spread to the streets and art galleries of Boston and eventually to Tokyo, Times Square and TED conferences. Mario says he quickly learned that “one, happiness is contagious; two, happiness empowers people; and three, happiness creates social change.”

He was on to something. In January, he received funding and office space from a sponsor so that he could expand his ideas. Eight months later, he was invited to Colombia to present the Happy Post Project to communities impacted by the civil conflict between the leftist FARC rebels and government forces.

The reaction surprised him. Inspired by all the messages of happiness collected by the Happy Post team, the mayor of Cali signed a “happiness pact” officially committing the city to measure and monitor the happiness of its citizens. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos mentioned Mario’s work in a speech and invited him for a visit. President Santos’ post-it note read: “a more peaceful and just Colombia.”

“It was clearly a special moment because we were moving from awareness to concrete actions that will spark social change,” said Mario, who is now cancer-free.

Like any good innovator, Mario is building on his early success to develop other initiatives. He recently created the Make it Happy Foundation, a non-profit organization whose goal is to spark a social movement to spread happiness. The foundation is creating a “happiness lab” to promote the study of happiness and support a network of social innovators. A consulting operation designed to help governments and companies learn more about what makes people happy is also in the works.

Mario continues to dream big. He wants to use happiness as a resource to promote the peace process in Colombia and beyond.

“If our project works in Colombia we can easily replicate that in countries such as Uganda, Palestine or Afghanistan,” he says.

In a way, Mario is already Colombia’s leading happiness export. He started out in Pasto as a raw material before moving on and adding value in Bogota, Boston and New York. As he moves up the value chain, the happiness he creates is inspiring people in Colombia and throughout the world.

By Stephen Keppel

You can read the article here in the ABC News´website: Link

 

London 2012 Olympics through the eyes of a Colombian September 7, 2012

Filed under: Colombia,Entertainment,Events,Experience,Olympics 2012 — magdanieto @ 12:14 am
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An article that I wrote about my experience of London 2012, and the Olympics was published thanks to Kim Masters and her blog Dream on Masters, who was invited by Blogs Metro, to write about the Olympics.

 

Here it is what I wrote:

I first came to England five years ago, when I decided that I wanted to be an Event Manager. I found a Masters on the Internet, signed for it and was accepted. Since day one of that Masters we had conversations and lectures about how London won the pitch for 2012.

It is amazing that an event that lasts just 20 days is able to change lots of people lives and bring together a whole world.

Just a year before that, I realized what I wanted to do as my career goal, my big dream. I want to bring cultural events to my people of Colombia. BIG events can change the perception of people and bring development to a specific place. And in Colombia we need to change the perception of people about how cool it is to go there, and attract development to get us away from being a third world country. My big dream is to bring the Olympics to Colombia in 20 years.

So, I came this year to be a part of London 2012 and take that back with me to Colombia.

It has been incredible to see everything from the signage on the streets directing people to the venues and the Tube, to the amazing volunteers smiling all the time helping people and communicating what is going on. I have watched the Opening Ceremony, but it will take me another blog just to write about how much I enjoyed that. I have been all around London to watch the events (I love the idea that London has used the existing venues for some sports, and also to make people go all around the Capital. What better way of showing the city to tourists.)

The gymnastics and synchronized swimming are the first two sports I will always remember watching in London 2012.

It has been great to see the British people being such proud hosts of the Games, and also to witness the support they give to their players.  I have so enjoyed all the people around, wearing their flag’s colours and supporting their countries. My favourites have been the Dutch wearing bright orange.

From a logistics point of view, I love the idea of portable structures and that only the stadiums will stay there forever.

To be honest, London is not nearly as crazy as I thought it was going to be.

I am very proud of my country, knowing that even though we are not yet brilliant at getting sports medals, we have managed to get three silvers and two bronze.

It has been great being able to experience London 2012 live and to be able to see how London is leaving an Olympic legacy through sport and community and nationwide participation. It is amazing that an event that lasts just 20 days is able to change lots of people lives and bring together a whole world. And it gives me goose bumps just to think about it.

 

And here is the link so you can read it from Metro Blog.

Love the experience of being able to write something about the Olympics, and more that it was published.

 

What a great night!! London 2012 Opening Ceremony July 28, 2012

Filed under: Entertainment,Events,Experience,Olympics 2012 — magdanieto @ 2:07 pm
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 What a great it actually was. Going to say now, because I don’t want to complain again, it would have been just most better if I was at the Olympic Stadium. But I managed to have a great night at BT London Live at Hyde Park. Was happy that I was able to celebrate with all those people who were feeling the same emotion as I did.

Was a good idea the give more people the opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere and great such an event. Paul Nutini, Duran Duran, Stereophonics and Snow Patrol. But even though I enjoyed the music, my favourite moments as are following (Someone laughed at me because I was making notes of the Olympic ceremony, but for me was like another MA master class about all the great things happening there, so off course I made notes).

Top 1: The Queen and James Bond. I actulaly thought they got a stunt old lady to play the role of the Queen. But I loved seen her on the TV. I really don’t know much about her, and I noticed she never smiles. But seeing her playing her role with Mr. Bond, actuallly made me adored her, and her pink dress (have to say it! didn’t like it, but is The Queen).

http://youtu.be/f28JxHQWleo

Top 2: Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean. I remembered being in Colombia at my grandma’s home watching in a Sunday afternoon his show. He has been always makeng me laugh. And I love him at the ceremony, just as he is, all with the modern technology checking his mobile.

http://youtu.be/mBhr-bEofOM

Top 3: NHS hospital- patient - JK Rowling moment. Something that I have learned all the time I lived in England is how important the NHS is for the British people, and how proud the feel about having such a great health system. Believe in Colombia is not that great, even though we have great doctors.

What I loved about my Top 3, is seeing United Kingdom all about what it is, with off course the Industrial Revolution, the “Technology Revolution”, the music across the decades. UK might not have a verity of dishes, but definetly hava a variety in culture. Modern Culture, how many countries can say that? Hearing all those songs that have been playing along the years, that the whole word knows and sing with, makes me feel very proud of a Country that I considered as my second home.

Danny Boyle did an excellent job with his team, and shows us a remarkable sens of the British culture, and what that represents. For the little I know about the country I can say I saw all about what the English people need to feel proud of. You have a great country and yesterday Mr. Boyle showed it to the world.

Another great moments I liked to remember: Cruela de Vil in a marionet, Mary Poppins flying all over the place, the normality of being English, with the mom, the mini morris, the kid playing, the small houses, the multicultutality of the country.

Was a terrific experience, and loved that I’m able to enjoyed it in London.

Below a picture of people, celebrating with American friends. No much Colombians, thats a shame, wish we could travel more.

 

So lets the Games begins!!!! July 26, 2012

Filed under: Architecture,Events,Experience,Olympics 2012 — magdanieto @ 8:50 pm
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Tower Bridge / Olympics Rings

I know is not the best photo, but I stayed 3 hours today next The Tower of London, and the rings never came down into its vertical way, like the photo. Too many boats and ships passing through the bridge.

So this is the start of the journey through The Olympics 2012. I’m here in London ready to be amused by the Londoners and what they have ready planned to show us, to all the visitors.

The following post are about all sort of things I find interesting from a Colombian, Event Manager, Tourist point of view.

Hope you enjoy it!

 

Poeta Center in Soacha – Buchanan’s Share Yourself Colombia July 2, 2012

Filed under: Architecture,Bogotá,Events,Experience — magdanieto @ 3:44 pm

Buchanan's Share Yourself

And this is how we finished the Poeta Technology Center in Soacha with Arcangeles Charity for the Program Buchanan’s Share Yourself in Colombia. With 16 phases, 1000 volunteers, 4000 hours of volunteer work, a team of 33 staff, 1 architect and 5 construction builders.

 

The Smashing Pumpkins the artist for Buchanan’s Share Yourself Program June 7, 2012

Filed under: Bogotá,Colombia,Concerts,Entertainment,Events,Experience — magdanieto @ 11:31 pm
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Smashing Pumpkins Joins Buchanan´s TIempo Para Compartir

Smashing Pumpkins has been selected as the Buchanan’s artist to celebrate 8000 hours of volunteer service, 2000 volunteers and 9 charities involved into the Tiempo Para Compartir program held in Latin America. The band will be playing on June 26th in Caracas, Venezuela and the 29th in Bogotá.

The band for Mexico is Maroon 5

More info: Buchanan’s Colombia

 

 
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