Dubai, 19 September 2025 – Reyyan Demiriz, a 15-year-old girl from Türkiye, has taken first prize in the 54th International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People, organized by the Universal Postal Union (UPU). This year’s competition received more than 1.6 million letters from 65 countries.
Organized in partnership with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the 2025 edition of the competition asked young people to reflect on the importance of protecting the seas and oceans, having them express their views from the perspective of the ocean itself. The theme was selected in alignment with the 2025 UN Ocean Conference.“This year we asked them to give the ocean a voice and drive action towards its preservation,” explained UPU Director General Masahiko Metoki. One letter “brought with it a tidal wave of emotion – our first-place letter, written by Reyyan Demiriz from Türkiye.”
Reyyan received her award today in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, during the closing ceremony of the 28th Universal Postal Congress. Her letter gives the ocean a poetic voice, emphasizing its bond with all living beings and urging humanity to change its ways.
“You must remember: when I grow sick, the rain forgets its rhythm, the rivers run hollow, and the wind begins to carry sorrow instead of seed. When you heal the ocean, you begin to heal yourself. So come back to me, like a kid returning to their mother,” she writes.
The silver medal was presented to Phạm Đoàn Minh Khuê, now 16, from Viet Nam, for her appeal to a renowned film director to produce a movie portraying the critical state of the ocean.
Kanlanfe Ingrid Ouali, 13, from Burkina Faso, received the bronze medal for her letter, in which the ocean reminds us that the survival and prosperity of humanity are inseparably tied to its own.
Special mentions were given to five young writers for their outstanding submissions:
- Beatriz Kfouri Azevedo from Brazil
- You Wu from China
- Gvantsa Artmeladze from Georgia
- Alireza Zare Dastnaei from Iran (Islamic Rep.)
- Claire Chen Ching Yuan from Malaysia
International jury
The submissions were evaluated and the top letters selected by an international judging panel, which included:
- Jose Matheickal, Director of the Technical Cooperation and Implementation Division at IMO
- Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and Assistant Director General of UNESCO
- Pascal Clivaz, former UPU Deputy Director General (2013–2021)
- Carissa Cabrera, marine biologist, conservation storyteller and ocean climate advocate
Speaking about the competition on behalf of IMO, Dr Matheickal said, “True power lies not just in what we say, but what we do. I also want to gently remind everyone here that ocean protection is also about people, about inclusion, diversity and equity. Everyone's voice matters. Every child's dream counts. And together, we can build a world where oceans are clean, communities are safe and hope is not a wish, but a plan.”
Addressing participants on behalf of UNESCO, Mr Helgesen said, “As a jury member, I was moved by the creativity, the sincerity and the sense of responsibility in these letters. You remind us that the ocean is not only a scientific or political issue, but part of our identities, our stories, our lives. [...] The Ocean Decade is a global effort to generate and share the knowledge we need for a healthier, more resilient and inspiring ocean. Your letters are a reminder of why these milestones mattered.”
Each year, the UPU’s International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People calls on children aged 9 to 15 to express their views on topical issues. UPU member countries first launch a competition at the national level to select a letter to forward to the international round of the competition organized by the UPU. The theme for the 2026 competition will be announced on World Post Day (9 October).
Read this year’s winning letters here.
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For press inquiries, please contact:
Yana Brugier, BrugierY@upu.int
About the UPU:
Established in 1874, the Universal Postal Union is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for the postal sector. With its 192 member countries, the UPU is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players, helping ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products and services. In this way, the organization fulfils an advisory, mediatory and liaison role, and provides technical assistance where needed. It sets the rules for international mail exchanges and makes recommendations to stimulate growth in mail and parcel volumes and financial services and to improve quality of service for customers.
For press inquiries, please contact:
Yana Brugier, BrugierY@upu.int
About the UPU:
Established in 1874, the Universal Postal Union is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for the postal sector. With its 192 member countries, the UPU is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players, helping ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products and services. In this way, the organization fulfils an advisory, mediatory and liaison role, and provides technical assistance where needed. It sets the rules for international mail exchanges and makes recommendations to stimulate growth in mail and parcel volumes and financial services and to improve quality of service for customers.