47th Letter Writing Competition-1st Prize for Cypriot Student

During a ceremony that took place earlier today, at the Headquarters of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), in Bern, Switzerland, the first prize was awarded to Hara Foka, a student of Drosia Gymnasium in Larnaka, winner of the UPU's 47th World Letter Writing Competition. The prize was awarded by the Deputy Director of UPU Mr Pascal Clivaz, in the presence of Mr Andreas Gregoriou, Director of Cyprus Post and other officials from UPU and other postal organisations. 

In the competition with the theme "Imagine yourself as a letter travelling in time...", more than one million children participated, from nearly every country in the world. The letter written by our Hara Foka was evaluated as the best and therefore received the first prize! 

It is worth noting that it is the first time that Cyprus' participation wins the first prize, which is a great honour for our country, Hara's parents and school and of course for Cyprus Post that organise the competition in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Culture. 

During the ceremony, Hara read her letter and explained her rationale as well as what lead her to participate in the competition. 

In his address, the Director of Cyprus Post stressed the fact that Hara, through her writing, demonstrated her empathy for the human rights and for the tragedy that the refugees in the Mediterranean have to face, who are forced to leave theirm homeland in order to survive. He reminded that the people of Cyprus lived through similar suffering when due to the Turkish invasion in 1974, nearly 200.000 people were forced to leave their homes, their villages and their towns to become refugees in their own country. 

Cyprus Post will honour the World Post Day on Friday, 19th October 2018, at 6.00 pm, at Cleopatra Hotel in Lefkosia, in the presence of the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Mrs Vassiliki Anastasiadou.