‘Letter to My Parents’ writing contest helps youth connect with their families

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A local Filipino women’s organization hosts an annual writing contest called “Letter to My Parents,” which helps young people build healthy relationships with their families.

Margot Adair, an educator and member of the Filipino Association of University Women (FAUW), and two of this year’s contest finalists, Isabelle Yergensen from Leilehua High School and Maile Kim Dunn from Punahou School, joined HNN’s Sunrise Weekends to talk about the contest, which is open to young people aged 14-22.

Ten Oahu high school students were selected as finalists and will read their essays at an award ceremony today, Nov. 4, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Hawaii State Library. A panel of judges will select the top three winners, who will each receive $1,000. The remaining seven finalists will receive $250.

FAUW partners with Reiyukai, an international humanitarian organization that originated in Japan, which introduced the project in 2013. The contest encourages students, many of whom are in distress, to express their experiences and better communicate with their families.

Past winning entries of “Letter to My Parents,” poems and essays from student writers were compiled into a book, Students Speak, and is available on Amazon.

For information on joining next year’s contest, contact FAUW at fauw1987@gmail.com.

For HNN’s series on Filipino American History, click here.

Copyright 2023 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.