The International Day of Friendship is celebrated on July 30. Declared by the United Nations in 2011, it signifies how friendships between people, cultures and nations can promote peace and unity.

Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 10Do you have a best friend or several best friends? A close friend is someone we can laugh with, share secrets with, and count on when we need help.

They stand by us during happy times and sad moments too. That’s why having a good friend is so special.

Friends make our lives more colourful too. A best friend doesn’t have to be someone who is exactly like us. In fact, many best friends are different from each other! What matters most is being kind, respectful and understanding.

A good friend listens when you talk, cheers you up when you are sad, and celebrates your achievements – no matter how big or small.

Some people may have one best friend, while others may have a group of close friends. Either way, having good friends makes school more fun and life more exciting. You will always have someone to play games with, do homework together, and share stories during recess!

Here are the letters from Starchild readers on the topic, My Best Friend.

"My best friend is Yu Ze.  He always shares his snacks with me.  He helps me with my homework.  He is good at making me laugh with his comics.  He is friendly and caring.  I am happy to have a friend like Yu Ze," says Gian Zhe Cheng, nine. 

Ho Shin Hong, 9

Ho Shin Hong, nine, writes: “I have two best friends. Their names are Ye-Za and Raj. We play together during recess and help each other in class. I am happy to have kind friends like them.”

Kyra Grace Chang Kai Er, 11

“My best friend is Ariel. We sit next to each other in class. She always discusses homework with me when I don’t understand something. We like to talk to each other. Ariel is a great friend,” says Kya Loo Qing Xin, nine.

Ariel Li Xin Yue, 9

“My best friend is Kya. She always shares her colour pencils with me. We love to draw and colour together. She is kind and funny. I like being her best friend,” says nine-year-old Ariel Li Xin Yue.

Kya Loo Qing Xin, 9

“Cayra and Hayley are my best friends in school. We have known each other for four years. We like to chit-chat and invent stories for our comics strips which we draw during free time in class. We share lots of fun and laughter together; memories that I shall treasure for many years to come,” says Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 10.

ITEM: We are celebrating Hari Merdeka on August 31! This day is very special to all Malaysians, as we will be marking 68 years of independence.

This year’s theme is “Malaysia Madani: Rakyat Disantuni” (Malaysia Madani: The People Cared For).

Starchild wants to know – what makes you proud to be Malaysian? Is it our delicious food, colourful festivals, or the many cultures and traditions that make Malaysia unique? Maybe it is our beautiful nature or the kindness of our people.

Show us your love for Malaysia by sending in your letters, stories or drawings.

Let’s celebrate Merdeka together!

Email your contributions to lifestyle@thestar.com.my by Aug 15.

Please put “STARCHILD: Merdeka” in the subject line of your email. Scanned drawings should be in JPEG format, with a resolution of 200dpi.

Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact, and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.