Letters with aspirations to reach far

Over the years, the UPU International Letter Writing Competition (the Competition) has become an indispensable part of theeducational journey of Bat Xat Town Secondary School. UPU is not just a competition, but has become a playground to help light the "flame" of passion for writing, nurture creative thinking and a sense of social responsibility for students here.

“Imagine you are the ocean. Write a letter to someone, explaining why and how they should take good care of you.” That is the inspiring “call” from the 54th Competition in 2025. The theme of the competition is linked to the goal of “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources” in the 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations. The ocean covers 3/4, or about 71% of the Earth’s surface, is of special importance and is a part of life on Earth. With this year’s theme, the children transformed into the vast ocean, writing emotional letters, not only calling for environmental protection but also lighting up the dream of a green planet.

Carrying that aspiration, from the simple classrooms - where students of Bat Xat Town Secondary School write, the letters have become a "bridge" between their hearts and the vast ocean. Among them, the most prominent is the letter from Nguyen Khanh An, a student of class 8E, who won the Encouragement Prize at the Contest 2 years ago. In the letter, An wrote: "I am the ocean, I painfully realize that beautiful memories are just distant echoes of the past. Now, my body is bound by dense patches of plastic waste like invisible chains that tighten every breath. The once clear water is now heavy with the stench of chemicals, oil spills and waste - all of which are scars left by humans on my body."

With a writing style rich in imagery and sharp arguments, Khanh An not only stirs emotions but also conveys a strong message about the responsibility to protect the marine environment. Nguyen Khanh An confided: When I started writing, I felt worried because I didn't know if I could express all my thoughts. But when I put pen to paper, I felt like I was living in the world of the ocean, feeling both the joy and pain of the ocean. Each word is a message I send, expressing my dream of a clean and beautiful ocean.

In the journey to achieve the title of top 10 nationwide, over the past years, Bat Xat Town Secondary School has made its mark when it was honored 5 times in a row as an excellent collective at the provincial level in UPU competitions, affirming the educational highlight of the locality. This success is the result of the dedicated support of the teaching staff. The teachers, especially teacher Nguyen Thi Chi (Chief of the Youth Union), organized sessions to guide letter writing, analyze topics and encourage students to express their emotions naturally.

“We not only teach them how to write, but also help them understand the value of speaking up for the environment and the community. Seeing them confidently express themselves, we are very proud,” teacher Chi proudly shared.

According to teacher Tran Thi Hien, Principal of Bat Xat Town Secondary School, the Contest has been enthusiastically responded to by the school and actively launched to students since 2019. Each theme of the Contest is associated with the United Nations' global action program. With issues of contemporary stature, newness and appeal, it has promoted creativity, aroused love of literature, trained writing skills, understanding and emotions of students. Over the past 5 years, the school has won 2 Encouragement prizes; 3 National Promising Writer awards; 5 times being one of the three outstanding collectives of Lao Cai province participating in the Contest. These achievements are not only the pride of the school but also a source of inspiration for generations of students to continue to nurture their passion for writing and dedication.

We will continue to create conditions for children to promote their creativity, not only in the UPU but also in many other playgrounds.
Teacher Tran Thi Hien, Principal of Bat Xat Town Secondary School

The “heart” of the highlands has written “great stories” through each letter. Those innocent handwritings have carried the aspiration to reach far, spreading the message of environmental protection to the community. With the achieved results, Bat Xat Town Secondary School has been affirming the sustainable development of education in the locality.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/nhung-la-thu-mang-khat-vong-vuon-xa-post402372.html