Social Justice and Entrepreneurship – Ana Maria Agudelo

We had the honor of speaking with Ana Maria Agudelo owner of Birdhouse Kitchen and Drinks who works hard against the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents in the community. Check out some of the things she shared with us…. 

What is your name and what is your profession?

My name is Ana Maria Agudelo, I studied tourism business administration and a specialization in education with new technologies, for several years I have worked as a teacher in careers associated with tourism and gastronomy at different universities in Medellín, in addition to serving as executive director of the tourism corporation hotels laureles stadium until February 2020. For more than 10 years I have been selling a delicious rice pudding, which Mamanita has placed on it. I always had the dream of having my own restaurant, which came to fruition in November 2018, when together with my family we created Birdhouse kitchen and drinks, a restaurant where we promote the love of birds and good food, with healthy dishes based on potato and gluten-free. We started in a small local in Laureles, and at the end of 2019 we opened another headquarters in Santa Elena, Medellín, so that our clients can enjoy a delicious meal in an outdoor space, where they can see some of the birds of Colombia surrounded by nature.

You work against the sexual exploitation of children, tell us a little about that part of your work.

 

In this tour of tourism I learned that there are spaces that promote ESCNNA (sexual exploitation of children and adolescents) for which in my role as a teacher and citizen, I have dedicated myself to working with hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and tourist guides accompanied by the Mayor’s Office of Medellín and the inter-institutional round table against CSEC to sensitize administrators, employees and the general public, that this scourge is a crime and should not be something that is seen as a normal activity and especially when associated with travel and tourism since these bad practices, in addition to damaging our children, have demerited the value that the city of Medellín has for tourists, with its tourist attractions, with its friendly and beautiful people, allowing the city to be associated with how easy it is for people to commit a crime with the sexual exploitation of children and drug abuse and we should not allow this, our actions allow people to nas commit to our children and we are all a protective network when we see any abnormal activity, we denounce it, in addition to that in hotels and restaurants there are protocols to not allow such illegal activities to be encouraged in these spaces. 

What would you like to share with the Proyecto Florecer community? 

I would like to tell the young people of Proyecto Florecer, that dreams are fulfilled if you work hard to make it happen, things do not come without effort, it is necessary to work so that what we want is fulfilled, for this it is important to be persistent in everything to start, promote self-training in each one to improve skills and thus go far and self-care is also necessary to get away from the risky situations that exist on the internet and in life in general, in conclusion each of us is responsible of himself to get ahead and to get away from risks

 

What are the advice you would give to people who want to fulfill their dreams and move forward?

During my personal and work life I have learned some things that have allowed me to fulfill my dreams and move forward, I would like to share these 3 rules that make life easier:

to. Love your work or study, if in reality what you do makes you happy, you have to enjoy it, but if not, the best advice is to be thankful for what you are doing and come to love it, because they are opportunities that come to us in life for Some reason.

b. Surrounding yourself with positive and happy people, toxic people do not allow us to get ahead and fulfill our dreams.

c. Be responsible for everything around you, but it starts with you first, respect nature that offers us everything we have and offers love to all the people around you.

These rules do not guarantee success, but they help you to be happy, keep your conscience in peace and  allow you to sleep peacefully.