Vitebsk postal workers revive the trend of handwritten letters

The Vitebsk branch of RUE "Belpochta" is reviving the trend of handwritten correspondence, as told to a BELTA correspondent by Yulia Ratobylskaya-Goloburdina, head of the branch's marketing and service promotion department.

In the age of the Internet and mobile communications, people are writing fewer traditional letters to each other. Instead of a note in an envelope or a postcard, they receive dry electronic messages with identical emoticons or short SMS messages. Meanwhile, a letter is a living emotion that evokes heartfelt warmth and excitement, because a dear person held this piece of paper in their hands, it's their handwriting. By abandoning letters in envelopes, people have lost many positive emotions, believes Yulia Ratobylskaya-Goloburdina.

In Europe, the fashion for handwritten correspondence is returning. It is considered good form to send a greeting card by mail, to write a letter by hand to parents or a loved one. The Vitebsk branch decided to revive the good old tradition and organized a competition of reflective letters on why it is important for a soldier to receive letters.

The competition is timed to coincide with Defender of the Fatherland Day. Both servicemen stationed at military units in the Vitebsk region, their relatives, friends, and, of course, girlfriends can take part in it. Authors must send their works by February 20 by sending their essays by regular or registered mail to the address of the Vitebsk branch of RUE "Belpochta".

As Sergey Olsevich, head of the ideological work and social protection department of the Vitebsk Regional Military Commissariat, told a BELTA correspondent, the military commissariat gladly supported the postal workers' idea. "Although soldiers have the opportunity to communicate with their families by mobile phone, a letter from home is difficult to replace with a short conversation. It is always pleasant to receive a message from relatives and loved ones. Therefore, we urge you to write letters to soldiers as often as possible," he added.

After reviewing and discussing the works, the leaders will be determined by a unanimous decision of the competition commission. Winners will be awarded diplomas and memorable gifts from the Vitebsk branch of RUE "Belpochta". A special prize will be awarded to the author for a creative approach to the design of their creation.