Young Turkish Writer Wins UN Contest with Ocean Plea

© UPU — Reyyan Demiriz (centre) of Türkiye, winner of the 54th International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People.

Fifteen-year-old Reyyan Demiriz from Türkiye has been awarded first prize in a UN young writers’ competition that drew 1.6 million entries from 65 countries.

Her entry, described as powered by a “tidal wave of emotion” by UN Postal Agency Director General Masahiko Metoki, stood out among submissions.

The competition, formally organised by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in partnership with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and UNESCO, invited participants aged 9–15 to reflect on protecting seas and oceans under the theme Imagine you are the ocean, in conjunction with the 2025 UN Ocean Conference.

The contest, now in its 54th year, aims to raise awareness of sustainability, marine conservation, and the interconnectedness of ecosystems.

In her letter, Demiriz wrote:

“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.”

Second place went to 16-year-old Phạm Đoàn Minh Khuê of Viet Nam, who appealed to a renowned film director to create a movie on ocean protection. Third place was awarded to 13-year-old Kanlanfe Ingrid Ouali from Burkina Faso for her letter stressing humanity’s survival depends on the ocean.

IMO’s Dr. Jose Matheickal praised the young voices, reminding that “ocean protection is about inclusion, diversity, and equity.”

Demiriz closed her winning letter with a plea:

“Care for me not as a chore, but as an act of love. And I will give back to you more than you could ever take; more beauty, more oxygen, more life.”