Three youth from Escalando Fronteras (México) embark on a life-changing cultural & climbing experience with the mentorship pro Mexican climber Fery Rodriguez of Pretty Strong.

On August 10th, Arely, Iker, Saúl and program director Alejandro Medina Fuentes fly from Monterrey, Mexico to Marseille, France on a journey to explore the power of international solidarity, multiculturalism, and mentorship.

“Vacance Engagées” is a type of activist camp for French citizens hosted by CCFD-Terre Solidaire. This year, 57 participants dedicate their vacation to learning how to be a “force of change in the world” through workshops, presentations and activities for both adults and kids.

Theme this year was “The fight against world hunger, the fight against the patriarchy - is it the same fight?”

The unique structure of self-governance means the kids and participants had the opportunity to learn and share the responsibilities for cooking, cleaning, and organizing for the entire event. A select few were paid by CCFD and other associations to be administrative organizers.

Both MBB and EF gave presentations that shared their missions, then opened group discussions around how these NGOs could grow their impact and network through solidarity.

CCFD donors paid for the participation of Iker, Arely and Saúl.

“Ailefroide” is a peaceful town in the national park Écrins nestled in the French Alps near Briançon, near the border with Italy. Translated as “cold wings” because the sun never touches the town in the winter, this area is well known for a very diverse number of activities, including rock climbing, hiking and paragliding.

Every morning, the group hiked with Fernanda to a beautiful area and learned how to move in the mountains. Using the tools of experiential education, the inspiring mountain backdrops sparked guided reflection - with the direction of Fery - on the power and benefits of being active and connected to nature.

Daila Ojeda and her dog, Chaxi, shared with us her life stories, her values, and her perspective as a professional climber who lives on the road. Her presence was the embodiment of the “climbing lifestyle”, which brings people together in mountains regardless of the language, background, or economic class.

Fery Rodriguez is a recent star in the climbing world as a result of her main role in the film “Pretty Strong” by Never Not Collective, which debuted in cities around the world. Alma, our project coordinator, presented the film for the Montagne En Scene Film Festival to a crowd of 3,000 people.

Fery’s role in the project was a mentor to the three kids throughout the three weeks while exploring the world of activism, French culture, and world solidarity along their side.

Throughout the entire journey, Fery was a source of self-discipline, positivity, determination, and holistic health. In fact, she was not only a mentor to the kids, but to the entire project team by getting up at 6am every day to run before the day started, then engaging with the kids in every step of the way.

The Kids in the Project - Arely Hernandez (12), Iker Hernandez (10), Saùl (10)
Youth Program Director - Alejandro Medina Fuentes
Pro Climbers - Daila Ojeda (Pro Spanish climber), Fernanda Rodriguez (Mexican Pro Climber)

Project Coordinators
Alma Esteban (MBB France, Project Coordinator)
Tiffany Hensley (MBB US, Assistant Coordinator)

COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
Belay Partners Creative Studio in Mexico

Huge thanks to:
Katie Moore (Yak Media, Project Production)
Laurianne Paix (Journalist, Founder of ‘Tout Va Bien’)
Bernardo Gimenez (Professional Photographer)

The vision of À Voix Haute, En Voz Alta is to bring to light the importance of international solidarity for youth projects like Escalando Fronteras.

As Alejandro (EF’s Director) said one day: “The strange thing about these kinds of big projects, like AVH, is that this trip itself is not the real change. It’s the regular Sunday outings that we have with the kids in Monterrey to their local crag, La Huasteca, that connects kids to these opportunities.”

Programs like EF are crucial because they create lasting impact in their areas. Organizations like this one serve as stable foundations of support to a community, year after year, engaging the youth, families, and local volunteers in conscious community building.

So what is the real impact of this project?

• We are working on a short film with Yak Media sharing the project’s vision, the team’s journey, and the kids’ eye-opening experiences.

• Iker, Saul, and Arely are invited to form MBB’s first Youth Ambassadors. The youth will have opportunities to use their voices on the international stage, giving light to issues they face in their reality.

• Fery Rodriguez wants to begin a local project in her hometown of Jalisco, climbing with adopted and foster youth, together with the help of EF and MBB.

• Our team is looking to repeat the project as Speak Up in 2023

• As a result of working on the project, MBB is partnering with our communications team Belay Partners to grow our impact to programs like EF