11-Year-Old Wins Children’s Knowledge Olympiad With Environmental Project in Cancun

Cancun, Quintana Roo — An 11-year-old student from the U Nahil-Xooc elementary school won first place in his zone’s Children’s Knowledge Olympiad (OCI) with a project promoting waste collection and recycling in his community.

Emmanuel’s project, titled “Care for the Environment,” earned him the top spot in Zone 051, which includes schools in areas with social lag. He now advances to the second phase of the competition.

Facing economic limitations, the boy wrote a letter by hand asking state authorities for support to continue his initiative and foster an environmental culture in the Avante neighborhood, while also pursuing his dream of becoming a public speaker.

Emmanuel has shown strong academic performance and early interest in his surroundings, identifying waste accumulation and lack of treatment alternatives as persistent problems. With the backing of his teacher, Maday, he launched the project to raise awareness about pollution’s effects.

His clear, well-structured presentations have captured classmates’ attention, sparking interest in environmental issues. Teachers recognize his potential, and he aspires to be an orator.

“The environment is everything around us: people, plants, animals, and our surroundings. The pollution we generate damages natural wealth. In our streets, trash accumulates and is often burned, producing toxic smoke; stray animals consume that waste, creating bad odors,” Emmanuel said.

The project uses observation, data recording, communication, collaborative work, and values promotion to sensitize the population about pollution in Avante.

Emmanuel now represents 16 schools in his zone after advancing in the OCI, which highlights academic achievement. However, his social and economic context is challenging. In irregular settlements, child labor is common, from selling products and running errands to riskier work like construction or scrap handling.

The U Nahil-Xooc school will close the academic year with a 50% achievement rate, but teachers are working on regularization to address educational lag, dedicating extra time to reinforce learning for struggling students. Parents value this effort as an opportunity for their children’s future.

In his letter to the state governor, Emmanuel detailed pollution problems from trash accumulation and irregular collection, which forces residents to burn waste, harming air quality and health.

The sixth-grader has become an example of public education’s impact on social development. As he continues his project, he aims to raise awareness and motivate other students to reach their goals, including his ambition to become a speaker.