The HappyHap Project

OUR STORY

Founded in 2008 by Sunnie Tölle we initially set out to create HappyHap.com, a web platform on which - based on the idea that happiness is contagious - you can post a few lines, a photo, or a video of a happy moment and dedicate it to others.

Within less than a year we counted 15 team members, so we founded The HappyHap Project, a Yale student organization driven by creativity, friendship, and cool projects. Our primary objective is to build platforms that make young people mindful of, inspired by and empowered through happiness. To date we have made an interactive website, published a magazine, produced three amateur short movies, coordinated multiple speaker events and study breaks, curated  a photography exhibition, held a charity fundraiser for SmileTrain as well as launched our own blog. We also curated “Perspectives of Happiness,” a photo exhibition which consists of both an online gallery and a physical exhibition at Yale. Most recently, our team members volunteered for TEDxNewHaven, a conference on “The Art and Science of Happiness,” which was independently organized by our founder Sunnie and our advisor Mario Chamorro.  

OUR 3 FOUNDING PRINCIPLES
■Happiness is contagious.
■Happiness - when shared - can inspire and empower others.
■Happiness can be expressed in infinitely many ways.

OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Internally, The HappyHap Project is set up with a minimum amount of hierarchy and a maximum amount of room for open collaboration. Essentially, we’re a project lab that revolves around ideation sessions, opportunity for project ownership and lots of learning by doing. We’ve also cultivated a strong culture of mentorship, both from upperclassmen team members as well as from our advisory board that is composed of Yale faculty members.

OUR ADVISORS

• June Gruber, professor of psychology at Yale University and Director of the Yale Positive Emotions Lab

• Mario Chamorro, founder of the Happy Post Project and Tourist Attitude

• Lionel Ketchian, founder of over 70 happiness clubs around the world

• John Loge, Dean of Timothy Dwight College and lecturer in English at Yale University

• Sharon Kugler, Yale University Chaplain

• Duane Isabella

• Jeffrey Kwolek, Timothy Dwight Dining Hall Manager

• Jeanne DeChello, Timothy Dwight and Silliman superintendent

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