A teenager has won a national writing competition after penning an inspirational letter to David Cameron urging him to change the current school system.
Vilte Bendziute,14, from Main Road, Romford, is among 13 winners of the Anne Frank Trust’s Thirteen in 13 campaign.
Vilte said: “I am really happy because it is quite a big competition.
“I have never won anything like this before so I feel really proud.”
The Anne Frank Trust invited anyone aged 13 to write to the Prime Minister, telling him about what would make a better Britain for young people.
Vilte, who goes to Frances Bardsley School in Romford, was selected by her school to enter the competition.
In the letter Vilta, says that we need to learn from other countries including Finland and she says that “more
children would learn better” if they were “surrounded by positivity and happiness”.
Vilte was inspired to pen the letter from her own experiences at school, she said: “I have lots of friends who get depressed because of the amount of homework that they have to do.
“I think that kids will learn letter if they are happy and enjoy what they do.”
More than 1,300 entries were submitted for the competition, covering a range of topics including bullying and teenagers’ rights.
Vilte’s letter was selected by a panel of judges, which included leading authors and Anne Frank’s stepsister Eva Schloss MBE.
David Cameron recently published a reply to all the winners in The Telegraph.
He said: “Seventy years ago Anne Frank wrote in her dairy, ‘I must uphold my ideals, for perhaps the time will come when I shall be able to carry them out’.
“Tragically that time never came for her-but it will for you.
“And on the strength of these letters, I can say with confidence that the future of our nation is very bright indeed.”
Vilte added: “It was nice to read his reply because I wasn’t expecting it because some times adults do not listen to children, but it was really good.”
Vilte’s mum, Ieva said: “I am really proud of her.
“She is really passionate about the education system and it was nice for her to be recognised.”
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