Victor Hugo da Cunha Ferreira, a 10-year-old student from Luziânia, Goiás, has won the state stage of the 55th Correios International Letter-Writing Contest and finished fourth in the national ranking. He is a fifth-grade student at the Laudimírio de Jesus Tormin Full-Time Municipal School.
The contest asked students to write to a friend about the importance of human relationships in an increasingly connected world. Victor’s letter reflected on spending time away from his phone and on connecting with people beyond screens. “I’ve always liked writing,” he said.
His teacher, Edésio Mendes, introduced the challenge to the class. The letter could be up to 80 lines, and some students dropped out. Victor had already written much of his text while Mendes was explaining the contest. “When I started writing, I realized the topic wasn’t that complicated. I began, and the ideas just flowed,” Victor told TV Anhanguera.
Victor received R$1,725 for winning the state stage, while his school received R$1,875. At the national stage, he earned an honorable mention and placed fourth.
The awards ceremony took place at the school on October 21, with representatives from Correios, the municipal education department, school leadership and Victor’s family in attendance. His mother, Maria Elizabete Moreira da Cunha, said the achievement moved the family. Victor said the experience reinforced his view that writing supports learning and helps people understand the world.
Sources: G1.