11-year-old Emirati schoolgirl wins 5th position in UPU International Letter Writing Competition

Aliaa Al-Ketbi, a student of Al Bat’ha School, Sharjah, was recognized for creativity

Dubai, October 20, 2015: An 11-year-old Emirati schoolgirl, Aliaa Ajil Mohammad Khamis Balsoub Al-Ketbi, a student of Al Bat’ha School, Sharjah, has won the fifth position in the Universal Postal Union (UPU) International Letter Writing Competition for Young People 2015 under the theme ‘the world they would like to grow up in’.

Aliaa’s name was second on the list of ‘Special Mentions’ that followed the gold, silver and bronze winners. The jury praised the creativity with which Aliaa expressed herself in the letter written in Arabic.

The UPU Director General, Mr. Bishar A. Hussein, in a personal congratulatory letter to Aliaa, said: “An international jury praised the creativity with which you expressed yourself. I wish to thank you personally for sharing your vision of the world you wish to live in. As UPU Director General, I am extremely pleased that the art of letter-writing is alive and well. I am especially touched that it is still being practiced by the world’s youth to such a high standard.”

Chief Commercial Officer of EPG, Mr. Ibrahim bin Karam, said: “Emirates Post Group is delighted that an Emirati girl has distinguished herself in the annual UPU Letter Writing Competition. We congratulate Aliaa, her school and her family on this achievement. Her winning letter shows that today’s generation has not lost the art of letter-writing. In today’s electronic ago, it is great to see that young people are still writing hand-written letters and sending them by post.”

The UPU received entries from 65 countries for the 44th edition of its International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People. Youngsters were invited to write a letter describing ‘the world they want to grow up in.’ Globally, more than one million pupils took part in the UPU competition at the national level.

According to UPU figures, over 14,000 schools worldwide were involved in this year’s contest. A jury of worldwide experts selected the best letters from around the world, with the top three winners receiving gold, silver and bronze medals. Sara Jadid from Lebanon won the first prize for heartfelt plea for a world without war. The nine ‘Special Mentions’, including Aliaa, received a special certificate and gifts.

This year’s contest is linked to the post-2015 sustainable development goals. The winners were officially announced just before a UN special summit in September, where member states formally adopted new goals to further progress achieved with the 2000-2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).