Short description about our background goes here.
Founder
After years as an advertising photographer, our founder Filip Cederholm Agoo began questioning his images on billboards and glossy magazine covers, set beside newspaper headlines about the growing mental-health challenges among our youth. He realized he was part of the problem, propelling shallow values into society by selling a false, unattainable reality. This sparked a simple question: how could he use his creativity to benefit children instead of shareholders? From that inquiry, the Human Alphabet was born, now evolving into a global happiness manifestation. To see more of Filip's please visit filipagoo.com
Human Alphabet
The idea of the Human Alphabet emerged after hundreds of hours of contemplation. The vision was simple: to photograph a human alphabet created with children around the world—one letter per country, formed by around 500 children and captured in locations that reflect each country. From the day the idea arrived, Filip has not been able to let it go, even as it proved far more demanding than first imagined. It became one of those rare ideas that, once seen, cannot be unseen—quietly taking over the direction of his life. Fueled by the energy of witnessing thousands of smiling children, an experience that revealed to him the profound power of our mirror neurons and human connection.
ABC Charity
ABC Charity was the non-profit organization founded to bring the Human Alphabet into the world. The vision was to create a fundraising tool using art sales to support charities in the countries where each letter was produced. The work was largely self-funded and executed at a grassroots level by Filip and his partner, in colaboration with local community. While the vision was noble, it proved difficult to sustain without a self-sufficient business model.
This learning led to the birth of Happy Hearts, where children now co-create art that is sold to enable more children to participate in free art festivals—creating a sustainable organization powered by art.
Visit abccharity.org to see the origin of Happy Hearts.
ABC Charity old promo video
HappyHearts
Happy Hearts is the evolution of ABC Charity, shaped by both success and failure.
We carry forward what worked—and leave behind what did not.
Three fundamental shifts define this evolution:
- A new name, aligned with the outcome. We move from ABC Charity to Happy Hearts, shifting focus from the vehicle to the goal. Through gratitude and kindness, children develop emotional intelligence and grow into Happy Hearts.
- A clear educational framework. We have structured the latest happiness science into a framework called The Flow of Happiness. A personal development program where children explore the science of happiness through art and connection to nature.
- A sustainable model for scale. We shift from donating proceeds to reinvesting them. The art co-created with children is offered to the world, the revenue enables us creating more art festivals while expanding our online and in-school programs.
In a world dominated by mind-based learning, lasting change comes when we connect heart and mind—creating inner harmony as the foundation for harmony around us.
Powered by art. Driven by purpose.
