A young circularity entrepreneur just inspired her home country.
And she is still in high school!
Sofía Ramírez, from Margarita Island in Venezuela, won the National Geographic´s 2026 Slingshot Challenge Significant Achievement Award with her creation Ciclo Verde (Green Cycle), a circularity-based nutrient-based compost.
Sofía´s Ciclo Verde turns an invasive plant found across the Caribbean known as Beach Naupaka (Scaevola Taccata), into "upcycled" compost. If left alone, this plant can erode beaches and suffocate sea turtles´ nesting grounds.
The community is an integral part of the project. The locals learn how to make the compost early - "we turn an ecological burden into a source of income and healthy soil", Sofía says.
Her vision will now shape a new future.
The Slingshot Challenge invited 13-18-year-olds from across the world to create a one-minute video that features solutions to current environmental issues.
Meet Sofía and other young awardees from the 2026 Slingshot Challenge here: www.slingshotchallenge.org