‘Rain drops’ piece wins third prize

  • 2013-08-20
  • From wire reports

This is the first time ever when the work of a Lithuanian schoolgirl took a top prize in the international letter-writing competition arranged by the Universal Postal Service, along with the UNESCO, reports ELTA. The text, written by Gabija Petrauskaite from Lithuanian resort Sventoji, has been recognized as one of the best essays. The representative of Lithuania won bronze.

The theme of this year’s competition was ‘Write Someone a Letter Explaining why Water is a Precious Resource.’ Thirteen-year-old Gabija Petrauskaite in her letter to her godmother wrote about both the “music of rain drops,” and “difficulties that are faced by people suffering from a shortage of water.” Being a resident of a seaside town, Gabija was very glad about the high assessment of her work.

“The topic Why Water Is a Precious Resource was very close to me as I live in Sventoji, situated on the Baltic Sea. In my letter I wanted to draw the people’s attention to the Baltic Sea, endangered by pollution, as I wish the water to be loved and treasured with greater commitment,” Petrauskaite said.

First place was awarded to fifteen-year-old Daniel Korcak from the Czech Republic for his letter to the Oder River, flowing through the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany. Second place was given to fourteen-year-old Nazifa Farhat Hye from Bangladesh, who described water as even more precious than diamonds.
1.5 million young people from 60 countries participated in this 42nd letter-writing contest. In the national tour, more than one hundred schools submitted 120 works for the contest.

The contest was launched in 1971. It is annually held by the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union together with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The organizers of the national tour in Lithuania are Lithuania Post together with the Lithuanian Center of Non-formal Youth Education. The contest is sponsored by the Ministries of Transport and Communications and Education and Science.