Letters from SayaLetters from Saya
Handwritten in Alexandria, Egypt

Receive a Handwritten Letter from Egypt

Request a personal letter from Saya, an Egyptian grandmother in Alexandria — she'll handwrite it herself and seal it, for you or as a gift

Request your letterMeet Saya
A handwritten Arabic letter on aged paper with a fountain pen and vintage Egyptian stamps
Saya
An elderly woman's hands writing a warm handwritten letter with a pen on a soft patterned tablecloth

Who writes your letter

A grandmother, a pen, and a quiet afternoon

Saya is an Egyptian grandmother who has spent a lifetime in love with the Arabic language—its curves, its patience, the way a sentence can hold an entire afternoon. She writes at her table in Alexandria, with a glass of tea beside her and the window open.

She prefers to be called “Saya”—a term of endearment her grandchildren use, and now the name that travels on every envelope she sends.

Every letter is a small cultural exchange: a stranger's words in Arabic, answered by hand, and carried across the world as an act of kindness.

Saya

Read why letters like these are finding their way back into the world.

Your privacy

Your postal address will only be used for sending your letter and will never be shared with third parties.

Every letter is unique

Because every reply is handwritten by Saya, the exact handwriting, paper, stamps, and postcards may vary. Each letter is completely unique.

Tracked & signed, all the way from Egypt.

How it works

Four simple steps

  1. Step 1

    Request a letter for yourself or as a gift.

  2. Step 2

    Pick a prompt or tell us about the recipient.

  3. Step 3

    Saya handwrites and seals it in Alexandria.

  4. Step 4

    It travels to the UK, then to your door — with tracking.

Important delivery information

Saya sends each batch to the UK, where letters continue by tracked & signed delivery. Delivery typically takes 3–5 weeks.

Replies may be sent as a postcard or a letter, depending on the length of your submission and Saya's preference. Each one is unique.

Your letter

Tell Saya what to reply to

  • Dear Saya, I'm at a crossroads at the moment — my work feels heavy and I'm not sure which direction to take next. I'd love some gentle advice from someone who has seen more of life than I have. What helped you when you felt stuck?

  • Hello Saya, I'm learning Egyptian Arabic and would love to practise reading real, everyday Masri. Could you write to me in simple Egyptian Arabic, with clear (not too joined-up) letters, and add a few useful phrases with their English meaning?

  • Dear Saya, I live far away from my family and I miss slow, real letters. Would you tell me about a normal day in Alexandria — the sea, your morning tea, the sounds of the street? I'd love to feel a little closer to home.

  • Hello Saya, I've just come through a hard year and I'm starting a new chapter. Nobody else really knows how much it took. Could you write me a few words of encouragement to keep with me?

This is the prompt Saya will reply to.

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Pricing

One letter or a series

Choose a single letter or a three-part exchange. Tracked postage is included with every option.

Stories

From letterboxes around the world

This is where our dear customer stories and reviews will live. We've just started, so we're hoping to fill this space with happy experiences soon!

Coming soon
The sea in Alexandria, Egypt at sunset, with the Qaitbay Citadel in the distance

Alexandria, Egypt

Sending warm handwritten stories and language letters to mailboxes worldwide.