2015 Universal Postal Union (UPU) International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People

Application Deadline: 30 April 2015.

The theme selected for the 2015 competition is: “Tell us about the world you want to grow up in”.

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) organizes the International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People annually. The competition was created by the 1969 Tokyo Congress and officially launched in 1971. Since then, millions of young people all over the world, up to age 15, have participated in the competition at national and international levels.

The competition is an excellent way of making young people aware of the important role postal services play in our societies, develops their skills in composition and the ability to express their thoughts clearly, fosters their enjoyment of letter writing, and helps strengthen the bonds of international friendship – one of the basic missions of the UPU.

The United Nations Millennium Development Goals for the period 2000-2015 are coming to a close and the world body is getting ready to adopt its post-2015 sustainable development agenda to further the tremendous progress already achieved in education, life expectancy, poverty reduction, and disease control.

From 2015 onwards, efforts will continue to achieve “a world of prosperity, equity, freedom, dignity and peace”, states the United Nations, which will propose an ambitious post-2015 sustainable development agenda that is expected to be adopted by UN member states at a summit in September 2015.

The UPU competition gives youth worldwide an opportunity to express themselves on their hopes for the world we live in, and the possible solutions they see to the issues and challenges facing the planet. The winners will be announced in 2015, just before the UN Summit.

The best letter from each country must be submitted no later than 30 April 2015.

Participation

• Young people between the age of 9 to 15 years may take part in the competition.
• The UPU International Bureau (IB) cannot accept entries sent directly by schools or private individuals.
• The organizers designated by member countries must respect the competition’s organizational principles, which specify that they are solely responsible for organizing the national stage of the competition and therefore must provide all the parties concerned with their own contact details and not those of the IB.
• The organizers should select their country’s best composition (one composition per country or territory only) and send it to the IB no later than 30 April.

Submission of applications

All entries must be submitted by post, by e-mail or by fax to: +41 31 350 37 11.

All entries must include:

• the composition (typed) in either Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish. If the original is handwritten, the organizer should type up the text on a computer and submit the original with a translation into English, French or Spanish (as preferred) of the original composition if it has been written in a language other than those mentioned above.
• a cover letter from the organizing body.
• a duly completed entry form, including the contact details of the candidate and the national competition coordinator; this form is available opposite to download.
• a good quality digital photograph of the candidate, preferably in JPEG format (at least 300 dpi).

Presentation and content of entries

• The compositions submitted must be recent, unpublished letters.
• Compositions must be presented in the form of a letter (“Dear ……..”, include the address of both the addressee and the sender, and end with a signature).
• Entries must strictly respect the set theme.
• Entries must strictly adhere to the number of words permitted in the original language (between 500 and 800).

Prizes

• The first three international winners will receive medals (gold for the first, silver for the second and bronze for the third) struck by the IB, as well as a certificate and other prizes offered by the UPU.
• Member countries may also award additional prizes to their international prize-winners, at their discretion.
• It is recommended that the prize-giving ceremonies be held on 9 October, the anniversary of the foundation of the UPU, to form part of the activities connected with World Post Day.

Download the Entry Form

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People