Delivered during the World Post Day ceremony in Berne, Switzerland
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests and Partners,
Dear Colleagues,
Dear Young People,
It is a great pleasure to welcome you as we celebrate the winners of the Universal Postal Union’s 55th International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People.
This year’s competition asked young people to write a letter to a friend about why human connection matters in a digital world, a question that could hardly be more relevant today.
Digital technologies allow us to communicate instantly across countries and continents and maintain friendships across great distances, even when we cannot be physically together.
Yet the letters we received remind us that human connection is about more than simply being connected. It is about being present for one another, sharing experiences and listening to those around us.
More than 1.48 million young people from 65 countries took part this year, sharing personal reflections on friendship, distance, loneliness, technology… and what it means to truly connect.
Today, it is my privilege to recognize the young writers whose letters particularly impressed our international jury.
Our bronze medal goes to Amir Arian Hasanlou from the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Writing to his friend Parsa against the backdrop of war and separation, Amir reflects on attending classes online and being unable to see his friend. His letter reminds us that digital communication, however valuable, cannot replace the experience of being together in person.
Our silver medallist is Samily Wilcock Baxendale Santana from Portugal.
Writing to a friend she has lost, Samily reflects on how digital distractions can create distance between people who are physically close. Her moving letter reminds us of the importance of being genuinely present for those around us, and of taking the time to listen, talk and connect more deeply.
And finally, it is my great pleasure to recognize our gold medalist, Zhiyuan Si from China.
In her letter, “The Sweetest Honey”, Zhiyuan writes to her cousin Yuanbao, who lives 2,000 kilometres away. She recalls experiences that they shared, including running through a wheat field, searching for eggs and looking together at a star-filled sky.
Zhiyuan also reflects on how photographs and videos cannot fully recreate what it feels like to be together, while recognizing how technology helps them remain close despite the distance between them.
Her letter beautifully captures the heart of this year’s theme. Technology can help us stay connected, but it is most meaningful when it strengthens, rather than replaces, our human bonds.
As Zhiyuan writes, “the truest connection is keeping someone close in your heart, no matter the distance”.
Amir, Samily and Zhiyuan, I extend my warmest congratulations to each of you. Thank you for sharing your experiences and reminding us that meaningful human connection can take many forms.
I would also like to recognize four young writers whose letters received special mentions:
- Athena Monica Browne from Barbados;
- Marie-Ange S. Dolou Chekpo from Benin;
- Elenilia Charalambous from Cyprus; and
- Tran Chi Cuong from Viet Nam.
Congratulations to each of you.
This year’s competition would not have been possible without the support of our partners, the World Health Organization and UNESCO. I thank them sincerely for helping us encourage young people to reflect on an issue so important to their well-being and our societies.
I also extend my appreciation to our international jury: Dr Etienne Krug, Dr Mariagrazia Squicciarini, Minister Jakob Forssmed and Diana Chao. We are grateful for their time, expertise and commitment. I would also like to remember our former Deputy Director General, Mr Moussibahou Mazou, who contributed to the work of this year’s jury until his passing in July.
Finally, my greatest thanks go to every young person who put pen to paper for this year’s competition.
For more than five decades, the ILWC has shown us that a letter is much more than words on a page. It is a way to share our thoughts, reach out to another person and create a human connection.
At a time when there are more ways to communicate than ever before, that simple act remains as meaningful as ever.
To all our young writers – please keep writing, keep reading, keep listening and keep connecting with one another.
Thank you for your kind attention.