YOUNG TIMES: 3 DECADES, AND STILL TRENDING
THE YOUNG TIMES COMMUNITY IS FULL OF SUCCESS STORIES. BE A PART OF THE UAE’S FAVE MAGAZINE FOR YOUNG ADULTS AND WRITE DOWN YOUR OWN BRILLIANT, CREATIVE STORY.
While love may be an indescribable emotion, you only need to mention Young Times to see an outpouring of what the emotion looks like on the faces of those who grew up in the UAE. The Young Times community is a special place made up of writers, poets, artists, photographers, and quite simply the best creative minds of the region who have only love for each other. Through a simple platform, they’ve become friends, support each other, and encourage some of the most promising beginnings to a lifetime of milestones. No matter where they live today, Young Times always brings them home.
The magazine has consistently been trending long before hashtags became commonplace — 32 years is quite a record. Whether it was the ’80s, when, according to Dilip Raote, a letter simply addressed, ‘Dear Otto’, without mentioning Khaleej Times or a post box number, made it to the YT Den or the ’90s, when Ottomates Sameer Ahmed Khan and Khadija Ali became friends through their mutual love for reading and writing for Young Times, the community was the place to be.
The community has been thriving online and on social media as a fond walk through memory lane and a way for Young Timers to connect across the miles and years. Of course, Shane and Talia very much live on this lane and tell stories of the tentative steps taken by the youth on the pages of the magazine that have turned into brilliant creative careers. Basudhara Choudhuri says, “My first byline at all of 10 years of age is one of my most cherished memories. I had assumed that only teenagers could get published. But, then, a girl on my school bus had read my story and told me that she liked it! I cycled four kilometres and bought multiple copies of the magazine that day; copies that are now with my grandparents, relatives, and parents.” Khadija Ali, who is currently an ESL teacher in Pakistan, says, “I remember flipping through Young Times to check out Otto Club’s Slylock Fox, Let’s Learn Arabic, and Read Aloud columns.”
On January 10, 2018, Young Times re-launched to once again win hearts and educate minds. In its latest outing, the YT Den has been flooded with letters, social media mentions, and phone calls — each expressing that the year couldn’t have begun on a better note. Meet a few of our current Young Timers; each is an inspiration. There’s Sean Fekete, who’s paying his university bills by excelling in baseball; Ananya Nair, who’s an active social volunteer at just 13 years of age; and Jashan Singh, who’s written a book about making success a habit. UAE’s youngsters are using their infectious energy to define their careers, help those in need, and spread smiles — the very same qualities that have made many a Young Times success story.
As the community looks forward to meeting more of its youngest members, we present to you some of its shining stars. Once you’re a part of Young Times, you’re part of a journey where your successes will be celebrated and your interests will be lovingly encouraged. Keep those beautiful stories, poems, sketches, paintings, and interesting ideas coming in. We’re waiting.
letters@youngtimes.com