At 14, Saudi youth leader, podcaster, and award-winning social innovator Rateel Alshehri is asking her generation a simple but urgent question: How are you spending your time?
With the launch of her new youth-focused initiative, “Reclaim Your Time,” Rateel is calling on teenagers—particularly Generation Alpha—to reflect on how they use their hours and to invest them intentionally in purpose, growth, and meaningful impact.
The initiative launches during the month of Ramadan, a time traditionally associated with reflection, discipline, and mindful living. It is, she suggests, a natural moment for young people to reassess how they spend their time. At its core, the campaign encourages a shift from passive consumption to active contribution—using time as a powerful resource for learning, creativity, community, and leadership.
“Time is one of the most valuable things we have, especially as young people,” said Rateel Alshehri. “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.”
Through short-form videos, conversations, and practical guidance, “Reclaim Your Time” focuses on the small daily habits that shape young people’s lives—from reaching for a phone first thing in the morning to how hours are spent after school. The initiative invites teens to become more aware of their routines, make intentional choices, and move from passive screen time toward purposeful action, creativity, and self-development.
Participation is built around small, practical commitments. Young people are encouraged to start the day phone-free, share a screen-free meal, dedicate time to learning or helping others, and document their experience using the hashtag #ReclaimYourTime across social platforms. The emphasis is on turning awareness into action—one habit at a time.
“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.”
As part of the rollout, Rateel has begun sharing practical demonstrations, including phone-free morning routines, screen-time awareness challenges, and device-free meals—small daily practices designed to help young people reclaim meaningful hours from passive screen use.
The campaign builds on Rateel’s growing influence as a youth voice in the region. She was recently named 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 engagements, and youth-led initiatives, she has created platforms that encourage open dialogue, curiosity, and empathy among young people across Saudi Arabia and globally. Her work consistently centers on empowering the next generation to see their voices as tools for positive change.
Most recently, Rateel made history as the youngest-ever recipient of the “Favorite Female Influencer” award at the prestigious Joy Awards—another milestone in her journey as a youth changemaker.
