A 1-on-1 Online English Platform Bringing Young Speakers from the Middle East and Southeast Asia to COP30
BELEM, Brazil, Dec. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — 51Talk, a global one-on-one online English education platform for children, announced that students from its worldwide learner community joined a United Nations–affiliated youth public speaking program at COP30, held in Belém, Brazil, from November 15 to 21, 2025.
Launched in 2023, the initiative has entered its third year, creating opportunities for children from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, Thailand, and Vietnam to share their perspectives on climate and environmental protection in English. Through speeches delivered on a UN-level international stage, participants brought local observations into a global conversation, highlighting how climate challenges are experienced—and addressed—by younger generations around the world.
As part of the COP30 experience, students also participated in rainforest exploration and local cultural activities in Brazil. By observing biodiversity conservation efforts firsthand and engaging with local communities, the learners gained a deeper, more personal understanding of sustainability beyond the classroom, connecting language learning with real-world global issues.
The program, titled GreenTalk: Speak for Future, reflects 51Talk’s belief that language is not only a learning outcome, but also bridge to global participation. Through long-term 1-on-1 instruction, interactive speaking practice, and a curriculum designed to build expression step by step, the platform supports children as they progress from everyday conversation to structured storytelling and public speaking.
“We believe every child deserves the opportunity to speak to the world,” said Jack Huang, CEO of 51Talk. “When children are given the right tools and guidance, they are capable of expressing thoughtful ideas and engaging meaningfully with global issues. Seeing our students speak on a United Nations climate stage is a powerful reminder of what education can unlock.”
Young learners demonstrated strong growth in English communication and global perspective through 51Talk while taking part in COP30. From Saudi Arabia, Sheddi Alharthi and Abdulmohsen Alsherih stood out among over 2,000 applicants, speaking on protecting the endangered Arabian oryx and safeguarding coral reefs in the Red Sea. Vietnam’s Le Bao Nhi overcame early pronunciation and confidence challenges to win the GreenTalk contest, sharing how plastic pollution on her local beach inspired clean-up efforts and everyday action. Representing the UAE, Khaseeba Omar Al Rumaithi proposed floating solar islands made from recycled materials, combining clean energy with marine ecosystem restoration. Türkiye’s Osman Batu drew on personal observations—from wildfires to biodiversity loss—while Thailand’s Wasuthida Ringkleun used the image of a sea turtle trapped in a ghost net to highlight marine plastic pollution, reflecting youth-driven environmental awareness and global engagement.
Across regions, the students’ speeches demonstrated not only improving English proficiency, but also confidence, empathy, and the ability to connect local realities with global challenges.
By creating a platform for these young voices, 51Talk aims to show how online English education can prepare children to participate confidently in international dialogue—bridging cultures, perspectives, and generations through communication.
To learn more, please visit https://www.51talk.com/en/index/ or download the 51Talk app to register for a free trial lesson.
About 51Talk
Founded in 2011, 51Talk is a global online 1-on-1 English education platform for children aged 3 to 15. The platform connects learners with certified foreign teachers through interactive lessons, structured curriculums, and personalized instruction designed to build practical speaking skills and confidence. To date, 51Talk has served more than 40 million learners across over 50 countries and regions.
