Meet our new Program Director, Julian
Hello! I am Julián Restrepo Monroy, a passionate educator with a deep love and appreciation for nature, science, and art. From Colombia, I was born in the coffee-growing mountains of Caldense, a beautiful region where I began to have a great connection with the mountains, the forests, and outdoor culture.
Ocean Conservation Festival
I am a biologist, a profession that has shown me the wonders of nature, especially the living beings I study: insects and arachnids. I have worked on several conservation, environmental education, animal behavior, and biodiversity projects. Additionally, I have been part of the global education network Teach for All since 2015. I participated in the “Enseña por Colombia” program where I taught natural sciences in vulnerable and difficult-to-access areas of my country: The Darién Jungle and Cartagena de Indias. Through this network, I have also participated in global education meetings, educational leadership workshops, and pedagogical training in Israel, Spain and the United States. This experience changed my life forever.
Enseña por Colombia
In 2018 I began a trip through South America to continue discovering natural places and educational proposals to continue enriching my experience in the world. Since then I have lived in the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Peru where I have worked on projects in alternative education, in addition to taking more time for illustration, theatrical improvisation, and tattooing, all art forms that I continue to experiment with and learn.
I’m excited to be joining Valley Camp this year as the Program Director. Valley Camp is a project aligned with my life purpose, to be able to support young people develop socio-emotional skills, environmental awareness, and respect for nature. Additionally, I believe it is fundamental to empower youth in areas where education is still limited due to the large social gap. I strongly believe that education is the engine of change that Latin America needs, which is why we need more socio-emotional and leadership education that encourages active participation, especially among the younger generations.
