Our journey began
when our founder, Jack Allen, an older man forever young at heart, after a lifetime of hard work and a habit of always looking for the next epic adventure—decided to take a trip up the Bolivian Beni River (a tributary of the Amazon) with a local guide in a hand carved wooden canoe. Several tributaries and 12 hours away from the closest town, he met a young mother and learned how she had lost several of her children. In that moment, he chose to stretch out his hand and help ensure that the tragedy she lived through was met with hope and actions began then toward the day when such events would never again occur without access to medical emergency intervention, clean water and improved education.
He did what he could on a shoestring budget for almost 15 years. There were treks upriver with donated tubing and supplies for clean water systems until almost all the villages had clean water. In the process of these fantastic forays, many others became inspired.
Slowly ‘his’ work became ‘our’ work which began to be recognized by changemakers the world over. Our community of support has continued to grow since.
Today, our team continues the work started by our founder Jack Allen who continued to work from his 70th to his current 89th year (and he isn't stopping yet) to support his friends in the Moseten and Tsimane communities living in the Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve through floods, fires and drought, and all the beauty and saga of the times in between.
As he became aware that his years were numbered he sought help only to find that family, friends and community across two continents were already at his side.
Our Bolivian family and community alongside our American ones work together to build bridges for diversity, multicultural exchange, skill sharing, fair trade, immersive cultural journeys, wisdom, and story sharing that inspire a deep connection to the beauty and diversity of the Amazon and the Indigenous families that live there.
We are an international team of legacy and bridge builders for enduring change in the Bolivian, Amazon Rainforest.
We work to serve the
Tsimane & MOSETEN
We support and empower
the Indigenous families and children who are the millennial old stewards of the Amazon Rainforest. We seek to preserve this vital ecosystem and the cultural knowledge of the indigenous people so they may live sustainably and in deep reciprocity with the natural world. Their cultures carry this information through the ancient traditions that safeguarded resources vital to their survival.
OUr Long Term Goal
is to empower the current generation to equip a new generation of young Indigenous Amazonian children and youth with the tools, music, skills, and sense of inner dignity that will allow them to celebrate and live for the land in a way that sustains their cultural identity and continues to pass their beautiful traditions to future generations as well as stand as active leaders in the world of today.
We are Committed to
the conservation and preservation of the Amazon, led by the indigenous communities whose stewardship of the jungle has withstood thousands of years. However, they now need a hand up (NOT a handout) to preserve their reserve and move forward with one foot firmly rooted in the land of their ancestors and one foot bravely stepping toward a tomorrow that affects and connects us all.
seeks solutions that support the sovereignty of the “People of the River” as the Moseten call themselves. We work to develop essential infrastructure, provide clean drinking water for all, offer emergency aid during crises, support economic development, and promote inspired education that supports Amazonian culture, traditions, and sustainability practices through community-led change.
We are here to help protect both their culture and the sacred land, its animals, waters and plants of the Amazon Jungle as best we can. We are all interconnected and that relationship is more important now than ever before.
OUR TEAM
JACK ALLEN
Founder - San Rafael, California
I'm Jack, also known as Ernest Allen, Carolina's father, and the Founder of Children of the Rainforest. For over 20 years, my mission has been to empower the Moseten and Tsimane people of the Quiquibay River to thrive in the modern world while preserving their ancient culture. It's been an honor to walk, work and laugh alongside them and their children.
With a background in engineering and planning, including projects like the building of one of the Panama Canal bridges, the survey of the Darien Gap and other projects all over the world, coupled with a lifetime of wilderness exploration, ultra marathons and a legacy that comes from generations of what I will call real grit have uniquely prepared me for this work. Our approach is simple: we work for them. Through trust, friendship, and collaborative efforts, we support their aspirations without imposing our own agenda. Our goal is to help them achieve their dreams on their own terms.
CAROLINA ALLEN
Executive Director - San Rafael, California
I am here because of my family lineage, a line of people dedicated to improving the lives of others. My extended family and heritage in Bolivia, my mother's work with rural migrant workers in California, her research on the life of Chief Marin, and her embodiment of devotion to family and community which have profoundly influenced me. Additionally, my father's dedication to the people of Pilón Lajas and his epic wilderness adventures with at-risk youth throughout my life helped sow the seeds of my lifelong passion for social service, bridge building, indigenous communities, and the conservation and caretaking of the earth's wild beauty.
Later on, my journey as a Waldorf teacher, artist, participant in humanitarian and community projects, attending Native ceremonies with my children, volunteering for numerous nonprofits, serving on boards, grant writing, fundraising, and managing my own small business—an in-home Waldorf mixed-age, Waldorf-inspired kindergarten, ‘The Mother Tree’ have all prepared and honed my work for and in the Amazon Rainforest.
I am an advocate for interconnectedness, compassion, holistic wellness, and resilience for all. My commitment to working towards a more beautiful world inspires and strengthens my ability to embrace challenges and empower others to do the same.
Outside of the jungle and the nonprofit world, I find joy in playfully connecting children and their families with nature through hands-on learning and the arts. I am a storyteller, puppeteer, and mixed-media published artist who loves chalkboards, her daughters, flower crowns, dancing, wildcrafting, and hiking in nature regardless of the season, all while humming to the inner song of a bird perched within my heart.
Aliana Allen-Maloney
Board Secretary - Portland, Oregon
I graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor's degree in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, with minors in Fine Art and Cultural Anthropology. My diverse roots weave through my life experiences and into my work.
I started my journey in Violence Prevention Education by directing and acting in interactive theater-based workshops. I have contributed to the field of restorative justice by facilitating restorative justice processes for court diversion cases, emphasizing accountability, healing, and reconciliation. I also assisted in collaboratively developing a new Title IX Restorative Justice pathway at the University of Oregon as my thesis project.
As a multidisciplinary artist, my gallery exhibits explore concepts of embodiment and liberation. When not volunteering my time for the CORF board, I work full-time as a housing case manager serving survivors of abuse and am part of the public policy team.
I am committed to centering and supporting marginalized communities and deconstructing the root causes of harm through the trifecta of interpersonal support, community-based grassroots change, and public policy advocacy for structural change.
I find joy and inspiration in the beauty of the natural world, waterfall chasing, nurturing my houseplants, dancing, creating art, and sharing tender moments with my two feline companions, family, and friends.
Elise Sombrano
Board Treasurer - San Rafael, California
Working with Children of the Rainforest fulfills my deep yearning for public service and drives me to enact positive change in the world. Community has always been vital to me, and I believe in extending a sense of inclusion to all beings on Earth. I believe we must work to share our resources and ensure no one is left behind or left out anywhere in the world.
As a bookkeeper, numbers and financial reports are my passion, making the role of Treasurer a perfect fit. With years of volunteering, I continuously learn and grow from these experiences.
I enjoy raising my two girls and in my downtime, I find joy in gardening and preserving food, from homemade salsa to unique jams. My cupboard is always stocked with these delights, a testament to my love for creating and sharing - I am always giving them to others.
Alvaro Garcia
Board Director - Santa Cruz, Bolivia
I firmly believe in the immense value of contributing to enhancing human life through education and healthcare. While we may not change everything, we can do what's within our reach. My aspiration for a better world, especially for my children, drives me to support initiatives like Children of the Rainforest.
Though aid often comes from outside Bolivia, where our projects operate, local support is crucial for their success and sustainability. I am grateful to help hold the role of bridging Bolivian cultural context with the effective implementation of our projects. Outside of my commitment to this cause, my greatest joy lies in witnessing my children's growth and sharing my life's lessons with them, nurturing their character and values.
STAFF
Lucas Territoriale
Logistical Angel - San Buenaventura, Bolivia
I am first and foremost the proud father of one-year-old Tiago. I've lived in the Bolivian Amazon for 10 years alongside my partner Camila after an enlightening odyssey through Latin America where we immersed ourselves in diverse cultures. We established Jícara Artisanal Jewelry in 2013.
In addition to running our jewelry business, I've embraced the natural construction techniques of the Amazonia to build our own house and workshop. Our sanctuary's unique beauty is an expression of the synthesis of the endless possibilities of wood, mud, bamboo, and jatata.
In January 2024, I took on the challenge of conserving and protecting the indigenous peoples of Pilón Lajas with Children of the Rainforest. I oversee logistics and all the coordination for monthly missions to the Mosetene and Tsimane communities.
Our goal is to establish genuine connections, understanding their realities, dreams, and concerns. Together, we find sustainable solutions to support their way of life. Recent efforts have focused on improving the spring water systems, providing hygiene enhancements, permaculture and agroforestry training.
Future plans include prioritizing school education and implementing beekeeping projects to improve economic livelihoods while respecting their customs and habits.
I enjoy being directly engaged with the indigenous communities of the Quiquibey River and am grateful to see and experience firsthand all that is becoming possible.
Sophie Murray
Digital Marketing Manager - San Rafael, California
My name is Sophie and I support Children of the Rainforest as the bilingual Digital Marketing Manager. Meeting Carolina and beginning this work felt very serendipitous. I have worked in Digital Marketing for nonprofits since 2020 and deeply enjoy using my skills to connect people to the causes they care about and nonprofits to those who will help them achieve their mission. I have also had a lifelong passion for traveling and intercultural exchange, living in Latin America for the first time when I was 15.
I have traveled to Pilón Lajas and stayed in the communities we serve to fully understand how to share our story in an authentic and respectful way. I am constantly blown away by the strength, joy, and kindness of the Moseten, Tsimani and Tacana people and the unwavering passion of the Allen family.
alicia Cortés
Social Media and Communications Expert - Cochabamba, Bolivia
Hello, I’m Alicia! I joined Children of the Rainforest as a communications expert. My goal here is to use the power of social media, storytelling and human connection to share the beauty of Bolivian indigenous communities and nature with the world.
I’m a Social Communicator with a Master’s Degree in Evaluation and Management of Cultural Heritage. Since 2019, I’ve worked on various digital, social, and cultural communication projects, ranging from ecological tourism to diplomatic missions. And in all that experience, I've learned that the biggest impact on social/environmental challenges doesn’t come from enormous budgets or famous international organizations. It comes from the hearts of people with a vision of a better future.
As a Bolivian myself, I have witnessed the strength, endurance and richness of the native peoples in my country. Sadly, I have also seen the discrimination, erasure and neglect they face, often not only from authorities, but also from doctors, educators, and society at large.
I wish for a better future for Bolivia, so it’s time I put some work into that wish.
Abner Paredes
Video and Photography - Cochabamba, Bolivia
I am a 31-year-old photographer from Bolivia. I enjoy exploring every corner of our country, capturing both its stunning landscape and cultural richness through my lens.
Traveling is my passion, and there is no better way to combine this with my love of photography than through my work with Children of the Rainforest. This foundation has given me the opportunity to document their valuable work in remote Bolivian communities.
Connecting with the people in the Pilon Lajas communities, forging friendships, and exploring their homes and land is a deeply rewarding experience that I wouldn't trade for anything. Their dedication and commitment is inspiring as we continue to explore, capture and support Bolivia's beautiful diversity and the vital mission of "Children of the Rainforest." Together, we are building a brighter future for our country and its people.
Chrisandra Fox Walker
Fundraising, Group Leader Novato, California
I am the proud solo mama of three bright-eyed boys. At age 13, I felt a profound call to protect the Amazon upon learning of its deforestation for fast food chain cattle grazing. This spurred my lifelong commitment to environmentalism and a love of holistic healing. Throughout the past 30 years, I have trained and served in the holistic arts as a yoga teacher, Ayurvedic wellness counselor, birth doula, herbalist and medicine-maker, astrologer, permacultural gardener, massage therapist, sound healer, retreat leader and creator of The Motherward Podcast.
Through my life experience, I have witnessed the transformative power of connecting with nature, self-care, and how a supportive community can bring healing to ourselves and our planet, and I am thrilled to bring all I have learned to my work leading groups into the Amazon jungle. As a natural networker and fundraiser, I am passionate about uniting people with resources through shared purpose and service.
Daniel Sanchez
Boots on the Ground - Rurrenabaque, Bolivia
I am originally from Spain, where I received a PhD in AI and expressed my creative side through clown school. I then turned toward work that connected me closer to the earth and allowed me to experience life in a new country through a role with the Camphill Community of Ireland, where I received my certification and training in biodynamic agriculture.
It is a privilege to now invest my time in the work and projects of Children of the Rainforest. It is an honor to step in and be of service; to give help which has long been deserved. Collaborating with the Tsimane and Moseten communities of Pilón Lajas and experiencing their lives and lands firsthand has been transformative.
Working together day by day gives me a detailed image of how they live and what needs they really have, thus forging a bond that facilitates a real and honest mutual understanding.