It’s out!

“EnVoz Alta, À Voix Haute”

(out loud!) A short film by katie moore / yak media - 2023

“It’s time to give space for voices of youth to be able to construct a more equal and diverse world.” - Youth Program Dir. Alejandro Medina Fuentes

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Hi! Tiffany here, to fill you in on the honest and full story behind today's exciting release of our short film "En Voz Alta, A Voix Haute" (Speak Up, or Out Loud) by our good friend and seasoned outdoor film producer, Katie Moore of Yak Media.

So! Let's get into it!

This was MBB's first BIG project in collaboration with a youth program - much much more than our habitual supporting role. I mean, it took a whole 6 months to fundraise the $10,000 we needed, but we managed! - and thanks to the international climbing community. I was still pulling my hair about logistics and expenses even when the kids were hurtling over the Atlantic Ocean, so, honestly, I want to give you all a huge, inescapable bear-hug to all you wonderful, sappy humans for making this happen. *Tears up* you know who you are.

Here's a run-down of the project as it actually came together - a bit of back-story to the film, if you will...

On August 10th, 2022, the three kids from the underserved Mexican youth organization took their very first steps outside of their country to embark on what we hoped would be a life-changing, 20-day journey. Arely, Iker and Saúl (along with youth program Director Alejandro Medina Fuentes) landed in the Marseille International Airport and rode in the care 'til early morning to get to our jet-lag sanctuary: Alma's Mongolian yurt, situated in the tiny rural climbing crag of St. Leger du Ventoux.

Throughout the next three weeks, they were guided under the power of female mentorship of pro climber Fernanda Rodríguez (also from Mexico) and Alma Esteban Avalos, Project Manager and certified earth mover (also from Mexico! but living in France).

The kids and team participated in a week-long "citizen action" camp with French association CCFD, learning all about the global fight against world hunger and the patriarchy, and how united voices are the change.

Then they climbed for 5 days with Spanish legend Daila Ojeda in Ailefroide, where we met up with Katie Moore and her dog, Mowgli, who was the center of an epic and comical drama with Alma's dog, Chipilin.

We made fires at night, cooked like one big Mexican family in a single family tent, and saw the SpaceX Star Link system cross the night sky. We climbed during the day, met photographer Bernardo Gimenez (who would later visit the project in Mexico for a film project with Siebe Vanhee), and sang happy birthday to a French journalist. It was fantastic.

It was kind of intense, because the whole time, we subjected the kids (and ourselves) to getting totally involved in whatever was happening around us.

With CCFD, this meant full immersion in their French workshops, translating and jumping between three languages; we followed Fernanda's rigorous health regime, the best we could, starting most days with hour long runs, and later, hikes (no one would keep up with her); and there were daily lessons that incited passionate discussions (and the occassional lecture) around topics ranging from nutrition, and voting-with-your dollar, to prejudice and racism.

While we tried our best to capture everything with our cameras and two GoPros (on Katie's suggestion we gave the GoPros to the kids with some half-heard coaching)….

…it was difficult for all of us to both participate in the moment. I think it's rather safe to say the film was ultimately saved from days of re-enactment and heavy post-production by Katie's driving out to meet us for one day of dedicated filming in Ailefroide.

What was our goal?

We envisioned a climbing trip using experiential education to its fullest effect: we would shatter all the walls of self-doubt and societal expectations built around the minds of these youth, and create unstoppable leaders of the future, one day smiting injustice and racism into bits...!

Or at least, that's the romantic notion we hold in our hearts when we work with youth. Tall order? Yes. But you don't know our crew - and we've seen first-hand some incredible changes in young adults because of their experience in EF's youth program in Mexico, even a few now-adults who are now mentoring in the same program, or contributing to their community in their own big way. So...we were going into this project guns ablazin' - we were going to blow their minds. 

This wasn't just another Eurovacation to the homeland of the world's historical colonizers, to idolize a 'more civilized' culture. 

No! This was about strong female mentorship, using their voices as powerful tools of change, and using empathy as a tool to overcoming cultural differences. 

This was real change.

We encouraged them to dream, while we provoked discussions about the realistic many forms of prejudice and racism.

We talked about facing challenges, and how to see for themselves the power they have in their voice. We wanted them to see that they, too, could be powerful in using their voices to uplift even a community. We shared our very human stories over the fire, and gave them a space to be heard.

And the project isn't over. 

Impact campaign: the next step. This step. What we're doing now. Our impact campaign involves thinking forward and using this film for future impact. 

Alejandro proposed that through EF, they promote the film in the schools in the kids' own community and around Monterrey, and if given the chance, other parts of Mexico. 

We plan to share it through our collaborating pro climbers, ambassadors and supportive community at large.

We also want this film to stand as a capturing of those incredible memories, indisputable evidence to the kids themselves of what they were strong enough to do and smart enough to learn; or, how they overcame borders in their world and their minds by tapping into the international community, then finding that strength in themselves to take each step forward; or to remind them that they can be mentors to others the way Fery, Daila and Alej were to them...

Finally - who was part of En Voz Alta?

Mountains Beyond Borders is a (mostly women) volunteer team of polyglot climbers - youth mentors, rock guides and pro athletes - with experience in different fields of social work. The project was managed by Alma Esteban Avalos, and in collaboration with director Alejandro Medina Fuentes. Fery Rodriguez was, inarguably, our spirit guide and relentless health coach.

Though the names are too many to count, some of the biggest supporters have been listed in the end of the video. You can be a supporter in our next projects with youth! Check out the programs we're accompanying this year, and reach out if you have any questions, or just how to get involved.

So that's all, folx.

Thanks for reading the whole thing. It's getting late, and I'm psyched for a big day tomorrow sharing this film with the rest of the world through our amazing climbing (and non-climbing! we see you!) community.

Stay dareful out there, y'all.

Tiffany, Founder