It is often assumed that children should just study, play, and grow up in a sheltered environment. Big societal issues like climate change, social justice, mental health crises, etc. are not topics that they should be concerned with. However, we often forget that children are observers of the world with an unfiltered sensitivity. Although they do not analyze the world like adults, they still have their own opinions and thoughts, and when necessary, they know how to say what they believe.
In 2019, when she was only 8 years old, Licypriya Kangujam stood alone in front of the Indian Parliament , holding a handwritten sign that read: “Pass the Clean Air Law.” No microphone, no slogans, just a small child amidst the noisy traffic and dense smog of the capital New Delhi. From that call, she became one of the typical young faces of the environmental action movement in Asia.
In Uganda, 15-year-old Leah Namugerwa launched a tree-planting campaign and petitioned the government to ban plastic bags to protect the environment.
In Colombia, Francisco Vera, a 12-year-old boy, has also become a prominent figure in environmental activism by speaking out strongly for the right to live on a safe planet – he even wrote a letter to the United Nations calling for climate action.
These are acts of courage and character from a generation growing up with a clear sense of their role. Their voices, though young, are resonating with weight and worth pondering in a world that needs to change.
Not only in the world, but also in Vietnam, more and more young people are proactively speaking up about issues that were previously considered “beyond the reach” of school-age children. Raised in a modern and open society, students are no longer hesitant to ask questions and share their personal perspectives clearly and frankly.
“Imagine waking up one morning and finding your familiar house has been washed away. All your savings have disappeared into the water, and you don’t know where your next meal will come from.” - That’s how Nguyen Cong Quoc Tri, a third-grade student, opened his presentation at iSMART English Champion 2025 - an English playground that is attracting great attention from parents and students.
Not only a place to practice foreign language skills, the contest integrates social issues to encourage students to express their opinions, helping them nurture civic responsibility from an early age.
Although only in grades 3 to 8, the contestants of iSMART English Champion have shown their rich knowledge and sharp perception of many social issues. Nguyen Tran Khanh Chi, a 6th grader, clearly demonstrated her awareness of the environment when mentioning the topic of air and noise pollution.
“Noise makes it difficult for people to relax after hours of studying and working and can cause permanent deafness if exposed for a long time. Meanwhile, polluted air can lead to dangerous diseases such as lung cancer,” he analyzed.
Although only in grades 3 to 8, the contestants of iSMART English Champion have shown their rich knowledge and sharp perception of many social issues. Nguyen Tran Khanh Chi, a 6th grader, clearly demonstrated her awareness of the environment when mentioning the topic of air and noise pollution.
“Noise makes it difficult for people to relax after hours of studying and working and can cause permanent deafness if exposed for a long time. Meanwhile, polluted air can lead to dangerous diseases such as lung cancer,” he analyzed.
From another perspective, Tran Khanh Chi, grade 7, talked about landslides - a disaster that is becoming increasingly serious in many northern mountainous provinces. She not only described the consequences, but also expressed empathy through her sharing: “Landslides not only destroy houses, but also take human lives. Many villages have been wiped out…”
Nguyen Cong Quoc Tri, grade 3 - contestant of iSMART English Champion 2025. The solid knowledge and sharpness of the young contestants surprised the judges and those watching the competition. Not only did they raise problems, they also boldly offered solutions from their own perspectives.
After an impressive presentation on the topic of floods, Nguyen Cong Quoc Tri and his team proposed a food donation campaign, with the message: "More than giving food, we also give hope and support to help people overcome disasters."
Another notable proposal came from Le Bao Ngoc, a 7th grader, with the “Green Airport” project – using AI sensors to detect polluted areas around the airport, then automatically suggesting locations for planting trees. “Trees will be planted in the right place, at the right time, and without too much human effort,” he explained. Ngoc’s presentation not only demonstrated innovative thinking, but also showed a long-term vision towards sustainable development.
Those fluent presentations in English represent the voice of courage and sense of responsibility to the community that is gradually forming in each young person. More importantly, those voices do not appear randomly but are nurtured in an environment where thoughts are listened to, differences are respected and not judged.
It can be seen that, with the right space and timely motivation like the way iSMART English Champion is creating, children are not afraid to speak up, and can even become creators of solutions to modern problems.
We are living in a world of turmoil from climate change, environmental pollution to social inequality, global human resource crisis... In that context, increasing expectations are placed on the young generation, who will continue to write the future of this planet.
That is also the reason why playgrounds like iSMART English Champion were born. With a national scale and a 10-year history, the competition has inspired many generations of Vietnamese students with a passion for learning English and the opportunity to practice critical thinking skills, logical thinking and the ability to present personal opinions. In particular, the 2025 season with the theme "Let's Talk" cleverly integrated social issues into the competition journey, arousing in the contestants the spirit of action for the community.
The journey at iSMART English Champion is also a journey of maturity for future global citizens. Through each round, from “Let's Connect” to “Let's Talk”, students gradually develop the courage to speak, to express themselves, to be listened to as independent individuals and responsible to society.
Most importantly, the performance of students aged only 8-14 with impressive language skills, logical thinking on big issues and the spirit of defending their opinions to the end has inspired confidence in a generation of talented, humane citizens, ready to act for positive changes in the future.
On the afternoon of April 12, the champions of iSMART English Champion 2025 officially entered the most important stage, the final round. 24 excellent candidates representing regions across the country will compete in the form of group presentations and live speeches on topical topics such as society, environment and public health.
In particular, the final round was connected online through two bridges in Hanoi (Newton Inter-level School) and Ho Chi Minh City (Canadian International School - CIS) using videoconference technology, ensuring fairness and demonstrating the spirit of innovation in education. In addition, the event was also livestreamed on the official Fanpage of iSMART Education (the organizer of the competition), expanding the opportunity to follow and cheer from parents, students and the community.
There will be spotlights, hundreds of spectators watching, but most importantly, there will be voices raised for what they truly believe in. More than a competition, this is a moment for them to be seen as true citizens - with the right to think, the right to ask questions, and the right to speak up for the world they will live and grow up in.
The competition will end, but from that stage, a new journey begins - where young people who once stood at iSMART English Champion 2025 continue to act, with foreign language skills, responsibility and aspiration to create a better world.
Source: https://vtcnews.vn/nhung-nguoi-tre-san-sang-len-tieng-vi-mot-the-gioi-tot-dep-hon-ar937099.html
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