In a world where talking about emotions is still a challenge for many adults, an 11-year-old boy is proving that emotional intelligence can also be a child’s game… and that it can even change lives.
His name is Edgar David Camacho Flores, although on social media and on stage he goes by David da Vinci—a nickname he chose himself because of his admiration for the great Italian artist and inventor. Originally from Querétaro, Mexico, this little genius with an IQ of 162 has surprised everyone with his talent, but above all with his sensitivity and commitment to others.
A child with his eyes on the stars
From a very young age, David showed a deep love for science, languages, and art. He speaks English, French, and German, in addition to Spanish, and combines his school studies with conferences, technology projects, and participation in international forums.
His passion for space led him to join the International Air and Space Program Junior run by the company AEXA, where he spent time with astronauts and scientists at NASA facilities. “It was a life-changing experience,” he has said in several interviews. “I learned that science is not only useful for exploring the universe, but also for improving our own world.”
And that is exactly what he is trying to do.
Macayos: the app that teaches children to understand their emotions
Inspired by his own life story—David was bullied for several years—he decided to transform that experience into a tool to help other children. That’s how Macayos was born, an educational app that uses artificial intelligence and interactive games to teach children between the ages of 4 and 13 to recognize, understand, and manage their emotions.
The goal is simple but powerful: to raise emotionally intelligent generations. Macayos combines the playful language of video games with dynamics inspired by psychology and pedagogy. Children can “train” their empathy, learn about resilience, or practice social skills through missions, challenges, and rewards, similar to platforms such as Duolingo.
“I believe that emotional intelligence saves lives,” says David. “If we learn from an early age to understand what we feel, we can avoid many of the problems we face as a society.”
From Querétaro to the world: heading to Germany
David’s talent and vision have attracted attention outside of Mexico. His next goal is to present Macayos at the Slush’D 2025 festival in Heilbronn, Germany, one of the most important events for innovation and entrepreneurship in Europe.
More than a thousand participants from around the world gather each year at this event to share projects, ideas, and technological solutions. And he will be there, representing Mexican children with a proposal that combines science, empathy, and hope.
His family and friends have launched a fundraising campaign to cover the travel expenses and allow David to take Mexico’s name to the European stage. “I don’t just want to show my app,” he said, “I want to prove that children can also innovate and change the world.”
A little boy with a big heart
In addition to his role as a developer, David has been an ambassador for children in the municipality of Corregidora, and in 2023 he was elected chief justice of the Children’s Electoral Court of Mexico. He has also created social projects, such as a campaign to collect plastic bottle caps to help vulnerable families, and has won awards for his activism in favor of animal welfare.
In 2023, his short film “Adopta con ojos de amor” (Adopt with eyes of love) won first place nationally in the children’s category of the Animal Welfare Contest, organized by the Government of Querétaro.
His talent and commitment have led him to share the stage with personalities such as Katya Echazarreta, the first Mexican astronaut to travel into space, who describes him as “a child with infinite curiosity and enormous empathy for others.”
Inspiring by example
What makes David da Vinci special is not only his intelligence, but also his worldview. In an age where technology sometimes seems to distance us from our humanity, he seeks to reconcile science with the heart.
His dream is to continue developing technological tools that promote empathy and emotional education, and later on, to train professionally in the design of smart and sustainable cities.
At his young age, David understands something that many adults still forget: that true progress is not only about inventing machines or discovering planets, but about learning to live together, understand each other, and care for one another.
A message that transcends borders
While preparing for his participation in Germany, David continues to give lectures, create educational content, and dream big. On his official website, he often writes messages of gratitude and hope: “I want to inspire other children to believe that they can achieve anything, regardless of their age.”
His story is a reminder of the best that Latin America has to offer: creativity, resilience, and the ability to transform adversity into light.
David da Vinci not only represents the future of child entrepreneurship in Mexico. He represents a new generation that understands that intelligence without empathy falls short. And that teaching children to feel… is also a way to change the world.