We created the “Dear Youth of the World” Global Postcard Writing Contest to address a growing need for connection, hope, and encouragement among young people worldwide. In an age of rapid technological change, social challenges, and global uncertainties, youth often face feelings of isolation, doubt, and pressure about their future. We believed that a simple yet powerful platform to express support, belief, and solidarity—through short, heartfelt messages—could uplift young people and remind them they are not alone.
The idea was also to create a space where people of every profession, background, and culture could come together to share their wisdom, encouragement, and vision for youth. We wanted a creative, inclusive movement that celebrates youth not just as future leaders but as active agents of positive change today. Using postcards as a medium links back to a timeless form of personal, thoughtful communication—making the experience intimate and meaningful despite being global.
Our aim is to inspire a ripple effect of positivity and global understanding, strengthening the sense of global citizenship and responsibility among youth, while also giving contributors a way to express their hopes and responsibilities towards the next generation.
In practice, the innovation functions as an open global contest launched each year around International Youth Day. Participants from anywhere in the world submit written postcards addressed “Dear Youth of the World.” They share messages of hope, encouragement, belief, and responsibility, written in 75–100 words and in any language they choose. These messages represent diverse voices—students, teachers, artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, farmers, and more—making the campaign truly inclusive.
Once submitted, messages are creatively designed into visual postcards by the organizing team and published on Udaan Youth Club’s social media channels and website. This public sharing amplifies the voices of participants, connecting them with a global audience of young people who see these messages as sources of inspiration.
Winners and notable submissions are highlighted in special video features and a collaborative photo collage presented on International Youth Day, celebrating the community’s collective commitment to youth empowerment. Participants receive participation certificates signed by the UYC President, adding value to their engagement.
Schools, universities, NGOs, and youth organizations are invited to collaborate by mobilizing groups of participants, turning the contest into a powerful tool for community engagement and activism.
Since its launch, the “Dear Youth of the World” Global Postcard Writing Contest has spread primarily through digital channels—social media platforms, community networks, and partner organizations worldwide. Our previous campaign, “Dear Mother Nature,” laid a strong foundation with widespread participation and goodwill, which helped raise awareness and credibility around this new youth-focused contest.
The contest gains momentum through active sharing of published postcards, video stories highlighting selected contributors, and the photo collages celebrating participant diversity. Collaborating institutions deploy the campaign as part of their youth programming, education, or community outreach, further increasing engagement.
Word-of-mouth within youth groups, education networks, and social organizations fuels a grassroots spread, making the contest accessible across many regions and languages. Email correspondences, promotional materials shared by partners, and direct outreach to youth leaders and influencers also support growth.
As the online presence expands, the campaign gains visibility in new countries and communities, continuously inspiring fresh conversations about youth empowerment, global citizenship, and positive change.
Since launching the inaugural campaign, we have refined the process of message submissions by introducing clearer guidelines and multilingual support to encourage wider participation. We added the artistic transformation of messages into visual postcards to increase appeal and shareability on social media.
In response to participant feedback, we launched special video series and photo collages as engaging formats to deepen community connections and showcase impactful stories beyond the written word. We also began outreach to institutions to formalize collaboration and recognize organizations mobilizing large groups with Impact Partner certificates.
To ensure authenticity and originality, we established policies to discourage AI-generated content and to maintain the personal, heartfelt nature of submissions. We are continuously exploring ways to increase accessibility and to create interactive, virtual events around International Youth Day to complement the contest and increase participant engagement globally.
Write Your Message: Begin your postcard with the words “Dear Youth of the World.” Then write a message of 75 to 100 words that shares your hope, encouragement, or advice to young people everywhere. You can write in any language, and your message should be original and heartfelt.
Find Inspiration: You may visit Udaan Youth Club’s official website and social media pages for inspiration by reading previously published postcards and learning about the campaign’s spirit.
Submit Your Entry: Go to the official submission link: https://forms.gle/AdaDKgtnjWWuXRsY6. Fill out the form with your details and upload your written message by the deadline of August 11, 2025.
Spread the Word: Share the contest with your friends, family, schools, workplaces, or community groups. Encouraging others to participate builds a wider movement of support for youth empowerment.
Stay Connected: Follow Udaan Youth Club’s social media platforms to see your postcard published if shortlisted, engage with the global community, and take part in upcoming events around International Youth Day.
Get Recognized: All participants receive certificates of participation, and notable contributions are invited to engage in special video features, amplifying your voice to the global youth audience.
Collaborate: If you are part of a school, college, NGO, or youth organization, consider mobilizing 100 or more participants to gain special recognition as an Impact Partner. Contact Udaan Youth Club at nyktyodhi@gmail.com
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