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Since 1971, the UPU has encouraged young writers aged 9-15 to write letters on a given theme to win exciting prizes. Click here to learn about this competition and how to apply for it.
The competition is an excellent way of making young people aware of the important role postal services play in our societies. It develops their skills in composition and their ability to express thoughts clearly. It also fosters enjoyment of letter writing and helps strengthen the bonds of international friendship.
The UPU's secretariat, the International Bureau, chooses a theme annually and publicizes it each year. Participating countries then organize the competition at the national level through the Post, often with the support of the educational authorities and media.
In 2024, participants will be encouraged to reflect on the future of the world under the theme: "At 150 years old, the UPU has served people around the world for more than eight generations. The world has changed enormously since then. Write a letter to future generations about the world you hope they inherit."
For this special edition, the UPU is organizing the 53rd International Letter-Writing Competition in partnership with UNICEF to empower children and youth worldwide by encouraging literacy and creativity through the art of letter writing. This campaign aims to raise the voices of children and youth and provide them a platform, in the lead up to the Summit of the Future and the 35th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to share their perspectives of the world and the legacy they wish the future generations to inherit. This campaign is an opportunity for children and young people not only to influence and be heard by a global audience including people in power but also to be valued and respected while promoting literacy and creativity.
Apply for Universal Postal Union (UPU) International Letter-Writing Competition