Beninese student wins fourth global UPU prize
Marie-Ange Chekpo, 15, also took first national prize for her letter on digital age relationships.
15-year-old Marie-Ange Chekpo from Godomey won the fourth global prize in the 55th Universal Postal Union (UPU) international letter-writing competition. She received her award on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, in Cotonou, after also securing the national first prize and an international jury special mention.
Chekpo, a student at Le Bon Berger school in Godomey, wrote about why human relationships remain important in an increasingly digital world. Benin ranked behind China, Portugal, and Iran in this year's competition, which saw 1.48 million participants from 65 countries.
The UPU competition, established in 1971, is open to young people aged 9 to 15. For the 2026 edition, the UPU partnered with the World Health Organization and UNESCO to focus on human connections in the digital era.
Why it mattersA 15-year-old Beninese student has been recognised internationally for her writing on human relationships.