13-year-old Claire Gakii emerged as the winner of the 52nd International Postal Service (UPU) Letter Writing Competition.
The Grade 7 pupil from Lions Junior Secondary School in Embu County floored over 1.7 million entrants in the competition from 35 countries, to take home the coveted prize.
This year, children were requested to write a letter to someone explaining the superpowers they would need to make roads safe for all children. The award ceremony was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The UN-funded competition saw Claire write on how she would utilize cutting-edge technology including using safe solar-powered robots to make crossing Kenyan roads safer for Kenyan children.
In her letter, the robotic engineering aspirant asserted that she would work with parents, children and policymakers to see her vision bear fruits.
“Claire’s superpowers are, in fact, actions that even regular people can take. She highlights that, by working with children through training and education, community engagement and policymaking, we can achieve our critical collective mission,” said UPU’s Director General Masahiko Metoki.
Claire’s parents Isaac Mugo and Daisy Kagendo noted that her daughter had always been a good writer. They have been nurturing this inborn talent by providing her with books to read and encouraging her to do regular writing.
They noted that Claire has also contributed to writing children’s content in local newspapers. Her father explained that Claire had already authored 5 fiction books, but requires a publisher’s support to realise her authorial dream.
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“We never expected she could top the world. God has favoured her. This really came as a shock to us. She is very passionate about writing. As parents, we have been supporting through buying enough books and pens,” he said.
“I’m so happy but I know there’s much more to be done. It takes time and encouragement. We are truly grateful to the Universal Postal Union for this opportunity,” Claire’s mother, Daisy Kagendo added.
For her incredible achievement, Claire was presented with Sh. 100,000. Hearty congratulations from Kenya’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Oginga Ogego were sent.
2nd and 3rd place in the Global Letter Writing competition were Matilde Magalhaes Silva and Dao Khuog Dui from Portugal and Vietnam respectively.