News DeskJeddah, KSA: A 14-year-old Saudi youth leader is using Ramadan’s reflective spirit to spark a conversation many teens know all too well: where does the day actually go?
Rateel Alshehri a podcaster, youth voice, and award-winning social innovator has launched a new initiative called “Reclaim Your Time,” urging teenagers to take a closer look at their daily routines and make more intentional choices around learning, creativity, and real-world impact.
Rolling out during Ramadan, a month associated with discipline and mindful living, the campaign taps into a season when many families and young people naturally reset their habits. The message is simple: less passive scrolling, more purposeful living especially for Generation Alpha, who have grown up with screens always within reach.
“Time is one of the most valuable things we have, especially as young people,” Alshehri said. “Reclaiming your time means choosing to spend it in ways that help you grow, support others, and make a difference. Even small choices can shape a bigger future.”
The initiative uses short-form videos, open conversations, and practical tips to highlight the everyday patterns that quietly shape a teen’s life from grabbing a phone first thing in the morning to how the hours after school slip away. It encourages participants to pause, notice the habit, then swap it for something more intentional: creating, learning, connecting, or contributing to their community.
Teens are invited to join through small daily challenges like starting the day phone-free, sharing a screen-free meal, setting aside time to learn something new or help someone else and posting their progress using #ReclaimYourTime across social platforms.
“This initiative is a reminder that we don’t have to wait to grow up to start living with intention,” she added. “When young people realize their time is powerful, they stop just scrolling through life and start shaping it.”
Alshehri has also begun sharing hands-on examples as part of the campaign, including phone-free morning routines, screen-time awareness checks, and device-free meals small steps designed to turn awareness into action.
The launch adds to Alshehri’s growing presence as a youth changemaker in the region. She was recently recognized as a winner in Fast Company Middle East’s Most Creative People in Business 2026, under the category “Bringing Good Things to More People.”
Through her podcast Rateel Alpha Talk, public speaking, and youth-led projects, she has built platforms centered on curiosity, empathy, and honest dialogue encouraging young people in Saudi Arabia and beyond to see their voices as tools for positive change.
She also made headlines after becoming the youngest-ever recipient of the “Favourite Female Influencer” award at the Joy Awards, another milestone in her fast-rising journey.
With “Reclaim Your Time,” Alshehri continues to challenge what leadership can look like at a young age showing that impact isn’t limited by age when creativity is guided by purpose.
At its heart, the campaign aims to inspire thousands of young people across the region to reclaim hours lost to passive screen time and redirect them toward learning, connection, and contribution.
