10/07/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/07/2022 07:45
Thirteen-year-old Esra Sümeyye Öz from Türkiye was awarded first prize in the Universal Postal Union's 51st International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People during the World Post Day ceremony held in Berne, Switzerland, today.
The 2022 edition of the competition asked young people between the ages of 9-15 to write a letter to an influential person about how and why to take action on climate change. The writing prompt aligned with the theme of this year's World Post Day, "Post for Planet."
Reaching out to households across the globe, Esra writes, "My teacher asked me to write a letter to an influential person to draw attention to the climate crisis. I think that mothers are the most influential people in the world. A mother shapes the world, raises generations, changes societies."
Runners-up and special mentions
Nisal Nasser Salem Al Rawahiyah from Oman, received the silver medal for her letter to Oman's Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources.
"How can I achieve the dream of my life when the coral reefs are transformed from brightly coloured gardens to a pale white colour? After marine life disappears from the seas and oceans, what will I discover?" Nisal writes.
In third place was Bryaneliza Latchman from Guyana, who addressed her letter to the country's president with several actionable steps to fight the climate crisis.
"Making everyone aware that a problem exists is the first step. I think you should run infomercials via social media. Most kids like myself watch TikTok. My 13 and 16-year-old cousins are on Instagram and my father likes to watch Facebook," she suggests.
Young writers from Algeria, Cyprus, Georgia, Sri Lanka, and Viet Nam each received special mentions in the competition for their letters.
The international round of the competition was deliberated by a panel of judges with expertise in literature, the Post and climate change, including:
World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October. The event was declared by the 1969 Universal Postal Congress in Tokyo as a means to mark the anniversary of the UPU's creation in 1874.
Read the winning letters here.
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The Universal Postal Union is a UN specialized agency with its headquarters in the Swiss capital Berne. Established in 1874, it is one of the world's oldest international organizations and is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players.
Press contact:
Kayla Redstone
Expert, Communication & Outreach Programme
Universal Postal Union (UPU)
Mobile: +41 76 457 36 54
Email: [email protected]