8th grade girl writes letter of advice to UN Secretary General

Nguyen Do Huyen Vi, an 8th grade student at Tay Son Secondary School (Da Nang), won first prize in the 2017 UPU international letter writing competition. The female student proposed a humane solution to the refugee problem.

When asked to choose the first problem to solve when playing the role of advisor to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Huyen Vi chose the refugee issue.

In the letter, Vi presented a solution with very sharp and mature arguments for her age. The 8th grader's explanations surprised many people because she has a deep understanding of the refugee issue and many other world issues.

Huyền Vi shared that the photo of 2-year-old Agim Shala in Kosovo being taken by adults through the barbed wire fence to the Kukes refugee camp in Albania, where his family was waiting, haunted her and inspired her to write the letter.

Despite her young age, Vi has a special interest in information about the socio-political situation in the country and the world. Unlike her peers, Huyen Vi often watches news programs on TV to get more information.

Huyen Vi wrote a letter advising on the refugee issue.

Huyen Vi's letter was translated into French and English by the organizing committee and sent to the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in Switzerland to compete internationally.

Content of Huyen Vi's letter:

January 1, 2017.

Dear Mr. Antonio Guterres!

Today, you officially become the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations. I send you my deepest congratulations and hope that you will solve many difficult problems for the world during your term.

Although I am only an 8th grader, I am very interested in the political issues of my country and the world. Mr. Ban Ki-moon said that I am “a good choice for the world, for the United Nations”. I admire him very much!

Dear Sir!

He took office in a turbulent world context: bloody conflicts, rampant terrorism, climate change, America's changing role in the world under Donald Trump... so I strongly supported him when he declared: "It's time to fight for peace."

Previously, as head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), he was known as a “tireless advocate for refugees”.

I know your efforts are great, but this is a very difficult problem for the world. Why is Mrs. Merkel, the German Chancellor, who opened the border to refugees, condemned for creating security challenges; or Mr. Obama, who accepted 10,000 refugees, also criticized because terrorists would blend in?

On the contrary, the richest village in Europe - Oberwil Lieli (Switzerland) agreed to pay a fine of 300,000 USD instead of accepting 10 Syrian refugees, and was also accused of racism; or Mr. Donald Trump's immigration ban on refugees from Syria and 6 other countries was also strongly opposed?

Everyone has their own reasons, but does anyone who is homeless lose the right to be protected? Does a dying life not need cool drops of water?

I don't think you or anyone with a conscience on Earth would sit idly by and accept that! But I also think that no matter how hard you and the United Nations try, they can't solve the refugee problem in the same way they have done so far.

Therefore, I would like to be your advisor, offering an idea that both solves the refugee problem and is very humane. Please take a few minutes to listen to me!

My idea came from Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris buying an island for refugees. It was the photo of 3-year-old Aylan lying face down on the Turkish beach that awakened him. He named the island Aylan, built houses, schools, hospitals, provided food, electricity, water, and created jobs for them.

This idea has been approved and implemented by UNHCR. Although there are many obstacles, I believe that if we are determined, we can make this project a reality. This way, all parties involved will benefit.

Contest entry by Huyen My.

On the first side, millions of refugees will receive life, peace. And when living conditions in their countries are better, they can return to their homeland at any time.

Second, Europe and the US will not have to worry and argue about refugees, which would be inhumane to not accept, and security problems to accept.

Third party, the person who buys the island for refugees will be remembered by posterity. I agree with Mr. Sawiris that whoever invests in buying the island will benefit because they will receive shares, becoming partners in this project. After the island is completed as a beautiful city, the profits from economy, culture, society, tourism... will be huge for investors in the long term.

Fourth, the peninsular country gains a lot of profit. If they hesitate to accept an island of refugees into their country, they can sell it and the island will become its own country with independent autonomy.

What do you think of my idea? Just write to me and we will discuss it further. And the last thing we need to do is find potential billionaires and ask them to join hands with the United Nations to invest in this humanitarian project.

Sir, Mr. Sawiris is ranked 557/1810 billionaires in the world, and he confidently bought an island to give to refugees, so I believe we will find 5 people who agree with this project, which is enough for the number of refugees in the world. Other billionaires can contribute equity capital. I will advise you on these 5 billionaires:

Mr. Bill Gates, CEO of Microsoft; Mr. Warren Buffet, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway; Mr. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook; Mr. Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon; the Koch brothers, CEOs of the industrial corporation Koch Industries.

They have in common the commitment to give 99% of their wealth to charity. I will help you write letters to these billionaires. I believe they are all excited about our project; from there, it will bring positive changes to the lives of millions of people, solving difficult problems for the United Nations, Europe and America.

I would like to end my letter with the words of a 7-year-old girl in Syria, Bana Al-Abed: “Dear Mr. Trump, banning refugees is very bad! If that is true, I have an idea for you: Make other countries peaceful.”

We love peace, are acting for peace, so that no more refugees leave their homeland, right?

His young advisor!

According to Zing