About International letter-writing competition for young people

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. 

How does it work?

Each year, the UPU International Bureau chooses a theme. Participating countries organize the competition at the national level through the post, often with the support of education authorities and the media. All entries must be submitted through the national Post. Each country chooses a national winner and submits one entry for the UPU international competition. Entries must reach the UPU International Bureau no later than 30 April each year.

2013 Theme

"Write someone a letter explaining why water is a precious resource".
The 2013 theme ties in with the United Nations 2013 International Year of Water Cooperation.

Water serves a multitude of different purposes, and it is vital that we preserve this precious natural resource. Access to water is essential to ensuring the health and well-being of humans and the protection of nature.

With these values in mind, young letter-writers are invited to express their thoughts on what water preservation means to them.