Meet The Founder
Meet the founder behind Heart of the World Foundation and learn what inspired the mission to
protect the Sierra Nevada and support Indigenous communities.
Heart of the World Foundation was founded from a deep commitment to environmental protection, cultural preservation, and meaningful collaboration with Indigenous peoples.
After witnessing firsthand the importance of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and learning from the wisdom of the Kogi people, the founder recognized the urgent need for greater international awareness and support.
The foundation serves as a bridge between local communities and global supporters who share a common vision of protecting nature for future generations.
Jacinto Zarabata
Founder & CEO
From an early age, Alja Dimic has been deeply committed to protecting nature, defending wildlife, and promoting a more harmonious relationship between humanity and the natural world.
Throughout her life, she has supported environmental initiatives focused on rainforest conservation, biodiversity protection, animal welfare, and sustainable living, believing that the health of the planet depends on respecting and protecting all forms of life.
During her extensive travels across Central and South America, Alja had the opportunity to meet Indigenous communities whose cultures have remained closely connected to nature for centuries. Among them, it was the Kogi people of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta who left the deepest impression on her.
She was profoundly inspired by their way of life, their unwavering commitment to protecting nature, and their ability to preserve an unbroken spiritual and cultural tradition that has endured for thousands of years. The Kogi’s message-that humanity can only thrive by living in balance with the Earth-resonated deeply with her own values and vision.
Through these encounters, Alja developed a close friendship with Jacinto Zarabata, one of the Kogi people’s traditional leaders. Together, they share a common mission: to build a respectful bridge between the Indigenous wisdom of the Sierra Nevada and the wider world.
As Co-Founder of the Heart of the World Foundation, Alja is dedicated to bringing the voices of the Kogi beyond the mountains of the Sierra Nevada and into the global conversation about the future of our planet.
She works to ensure that more people understand who the Kogi are, why their knowledge matters, and why protecting Indigenous cultures is inseparable from protecting Earth’s remaining forests, rivers, biodiversity, and climate.