Allyza Nichole de Jesus of Malanday Elementary School won first place and received the most likes for her creative eco planterKnowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI) helped inspire over 6,000 children to take care of the environment for a cleaner and brighter future through the “Eco-Squad: Kilos Kabataan Para sa Kapaligiran (KKK)” project with Breeze and the Department of Education Schools Division Office-Marikina.

The project engaged 17 elementary schools in Marikina City to educate the youth on the importance of environmental protection and conservation through film showings on nature, pollution and recycling, among others.

The children applied what they learned via KKK’s Eco Planters contest, where each student planted seedlings in creative planters and monitored the plants’ weekly progress in their eco diaries. Knowledge Channel’s resident art educator and “Art Smart” host, Precious Gamboa, taught the children to make planters out of recycled materials.

Chosen as winners were Allyza Nichole de Jesus of Malanday Elementary School (Supremo Award), followed by Given Rich Claciete of Concepcion Elementary School (Bayani Award) and Lois Nicolette delos Santos of L. Victorino Elementary School (Kawal Award). Apart from the top prize, De Jesus garnered the most likes online for her eco achievement to receive the Sikat Award.

They were awarded cash prizes and tablets, and laptops for their respective schools. The finalists also received tablets loaded with Knowledge Channel video lessons to support their online learning.

KCFI president and executive director Rina Lopez expressed gratitude to every parent, educator and student who took part in the collaborative effort.

“Thank you for stepping up in teaching your children to take care of the environment. Thank you for encouraging them to make a positive change in our society by giving back to Mother Nature and making life more sustainable. Let us continue nurturing the environment with our children,” she said.