Monte Jungla builds bridges between culture and the environment, developing projects with communities in Colombia that generate impact.
Our projects often involve social or environmental impact components that support community-based solutions to environmental and socio-economic challenges in Colombia and beyond.
We believe film, art and music have the power to connect people around the world and inspire them to take action toward building a more verdant and just society for all.
OUR PROJECTS
SONIC FOREST
A journey to the Colombian Pacific to discover the richness of Earth’s most megadiverse places through its local music and its people.
ESCUCHA LA AMAZONÍA
Seven indigenous leaders from the Amazon jungle send seven vital messages to a world in the midst of climate change.
COMING FILMS AND IMPACT CAMPAIGNS
YUMA, SONIC RIVER
Yuma is a musical journey that takes us through the tales of five Colombian folk musicians living on the banks of the Magdalena River of Colombia. They have inherited music ancestrally, as a way to heal and face the violence, neglect, and environmental abuse that permeates their history.
The impact campaign for this film is called El Bosque de la Cumbia and brings together 5 initiatives in three locations: (Zapatosa Marsh, Mompox, and the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta)
- Education (to recover knowledge and restore a sense of importance regarding the river and its wetlands among children and youth)
- Cultural Strengthening (partnerships with festivals, active involvement in cultural processes, and local leadership)
- Conservation of forests, wetlands, and mangroves in the river’s lower basin
- Economic Development / Regenerative tourism and local entrepreneurship
- Communication campaign via social media, print media, radio, and TV
THE SHAPE OF THE TREES
In one of the countries which more social leaders are killed annually, three female leaders weave together their communities to defend their lands and their ancestral knowledge, defying the false limits between humans and nature.
The impact campaign for this film is called Guardianas and aims to recognize, strengthen, and share exemplary female leadership with new generations of Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, as a mechanism for gender inclusion within the communities and as an anchor to keep youth from abandoning their territories as they grow up. This will ensure the protection and conservation of ecosystems vital to the planet in the current context of climate change (e.g., Escazú Agreement).
This campaign brings together 6 initiatives in 3 regions: (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Chocó, Caquetá)
- Music, sound mixing, and podcasting workshops for youth involved with the community radio station of the Yurayaco People in Caquetá, Amazon. Expand the reach of the radio station to the digital/global world.
- Screenings of the documentary in strategic spaces with politically influential people and organizations as a tool to promote the protection of territorial, environmental, and human rights.
- Leadership learning exchanges between the three leaders featured in the documentary and their communities, using the documentary as the central point of discussion.
- Communication, promotion, and alternative distribution campaign to inspire new generations of female guardians through the press and social media.
- Create an educational toolkit to accompany the documentary in forums and discussions in strategically chosen regions of Colombia.
- Connect leaders in Colombia with those leading efforts in other parts of the world by leveraging technology to create databases, alerts, and added protection for social and environmental leaders.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
TIERRA
Sustainability project for Villa de Leyva, Colombia
QUIBA
A greener future for children in Ciudad Bolívar, Bogotá
FEATURED PROJECT
Impact campaign video for El Bosque de la Cumbia. The Magdalena river, Colombia’s most outstanding river.
MEET OUR TEAM
SIMÓN MEJÍA
Visual artist and music producer based in Bogotá, Colombia. He’s the founder and producer of the internationally acclaimed band Bomba Estéreo (six times Grammy nominee). Since 2005, Simón has been involved with music productions and filmmaking as a director, editor and producer of documentary and short films as well as musical videos and other artistic productions.
Since 2015 he has been working on environmental projects and campaigns with organizations such as United Nations, WWF, The Nature Conservancy, Ford Foundation and Gaia Amazonas, among others.
In 2020 he released the project Monte, a sonic experimentation between electronic music and the sounds of nature and Monte Jungla, an audiovisual production company focused on narratives around the environment, music and culture in Latin America.
MARÍA ELVIRA SIERRA
Industrial Engineer with postgraduate studies in business administration and negotiation techniques. Over 10 years of experience in financial and accounting analysis. Currently CEO and part owner of Empretex, focused on green solutions in the textile industry, and financial consultant of Bomba Estéreo. Possesses a creative and logistical mindset with regards to problem solving and a firm grasp of engineering visualization. With proven skills to improve efficiency and output, in Monte Jungla she will be in charge of financial management, supervising budgets and optimizing resource operation.
LORENA SIERRA
Political scientist, cultural journalist and audiovisual producer. 6 years of experience in cultural documentary production in Colombia and Argentina for Al-Jazeera-Arabic, Flair media consultancy and CGTN-china. She is the director and producer of music videos, documentaries and commercials In Medellín, Colombia with her company ¨Se vé produccion¨ She is currently a producer at the MonteJungla company specializing in projects related to the environment and music.
JOHN MYERS
Visionary, innovative conservationist, nature tourism expert and writer with twenty years of experience working in Colombia and Latin America. Formerly held senior management positions with Conservation International, WWF, The Nature Conservancy and National Audubon Society. Strong track record: building, leading and managing teams and programs; leading public and private fundraising efforts; government relations; partnership development; engaging rural communities and environmental conflict resolution. Recognized expert in ecotourism, community-based tourism and birdwatching. Extensive experience working with Indigenous communities. Engaging public speaker, emerging non-fiction writer and film producer. Former Fulbright scholar in Colombia and Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia. Exceptional network of contacts.
DAVE KRAMER
Dave is an environmental educator and conservation professional and coach, with a decade in schools in both Colombia and the US and 15+ years working with sustainable development NGOs in Latin America and beyond. He holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School, and an undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College in English Literature and Education. He has served as a conservation coach with CCNET and as a youth mentor for the Global Landscapes Forum. Dave is a Switzer Environmental Fellow and a Pat Cooke Fellow.
TALK TO US
MONTEJUNGLA@GMAIL.COM
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