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Curated by Young Voices of Arabia |
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From the Editor's Desk Mir Faraz Editor-In-Chief |
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Dearest Readers,
It is my honour and privilege to welcome you all to the very first edition of the Voices of Future Generations Gazette! Voices of Future Generations Middle East is far more than just a writing competition – it is a community of like-minded changemakers and visionaries, who know that their voices hold the power to change the world. VoFG acknowledges the fact that young people have the potential to make a difference, and it provides them with an extraordinary platform to amplify their voices.
VoFG’s admirable endeavours to educate young children about sustainability, hone their writing skills, and help them share their views on a worldwide scale never stop – and this newsletter is the latest feather in VoFG’s splendidly decorated cap!
Teamwork makes the dream work — clichéd but true! It is an amazing team that we have here at The VoFG Gazette, and... |
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Sustainable Development Goals of the Month
Saira Thomas Assistant Editor
Each month, the United Nations designates a specific SDG as the "SDG of the Month," and the VOFG Gazette is committed to spotlighting these goals through our issues. Our pioneer issue features *SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy* for January and *SDG 4: Quality Education* for February.
SDG 7 focuses on ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy. By promoting the use of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, this goal plays a crucial role in combating climate change, reducing pollution, and supporting global economic growth. |
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Fun Fact Sophie Claire Dias Media Intern |
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Poetry Drop
Shravni Nethra Editing Team
2025 began with magic and light,
At the Emirates Literature Festival, words took flight...!
A haven of poetry, stories untold,
A celebration of literature, rich and bold...!
A pose so classy, a gaze full of grace,
Left me in awe, a smile on face...!
A moment of thrill, an exciting delight,
With Mr.Daniel Handler, Lemony Snicket in sight...!
Sessions with authors Shereen, Maitha, Alex and more,
Each word they spoke opened a new literary door...!
In ELF Dubai's Intercontinental,
where the world converged,
I stood among the authors, heart fully submerged...!
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Myths Busted!
Jaivardhan Manish Nawani Research Team
Myth #1: Recycling always works, so I can throw anything in the bin. Busted! Wish-cycling (throwing non-recyclables in the recycling bin, hoping they’ll be recycled) actually makes things worse! Contaminated batches often end up in landfills, and makes it a lot more problematic for you to make an impact.
Myth #2: Paper bags are better than plastic bags.
Busted! While paper decomposes faster, producing it takes four times more energy than plastic. The best option is always a reusable bag!
Myth #3: Sustainable products are always expensive.
Busted!
Contrary to this assumption, not all sustainable products burn a hole in your wallet. Some even save money like using LED bulbs, thrifting clothes, or cutting down on single-use plastics. Sustainability isn’t about buying more—it’s about buying smarter. |
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VoFG Book Rec Alert! Nuha Danish Media Intern |
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Inside VoFG
Sashini Manikandan Media Team
Ever wondered what happens when young literary stars take over one of the world’s largest festivals dedicated to the art of crafting words and spreading the love for literature?
The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, more fondly called our beloved ‘LitFest’ 2025, celebrated more than book lovers and bibliophiles – it was a whirlwind of shared stories and electrifying conversations.
At the core of it were our VoFG Gazette Media team led by our creative Content Head Inaya Danish meeting to drive powerful social media campaigns and supporting our published authors leading International Author Sessions for the literature lovers of Dubai.
Keep reading for an insightful interview with these amazing newly published hosts about their experience with the festival. |
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Rayshal Tharun Harshal
Published in Young Voices of Arabia 2024
“Hosting Helen Farmer at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature was incredible. Her book launch, My Family’s Secret Superpowers, was a masterclass in connecting with the audience. Her storytelling and humour inspired me to think about how I can make my own writing more engaging.
Preparing for the session taught me to connect with people through storytelling, like Helen Farmer does. She shared personal experiences and engaged the audience, showing me, how important interaction is. I also improved my public speaking and confidence, learning that storytelling is about creating a memorable experience." |
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Zakaria Takriti
Published in Young Voices of Arabia 2024
Hosting Jack Meggitt-Phillips session 'The Beast's Final Feast' was amazing! Jack's energy and passion really brought his books to life. He taught me that it’s not just about writing a good story, but connecting with the audience, especially for children's books. His kindness inspired me to write every day, even if it’s just a few ideas or character traits.
I was nervous, so I did a lot of prep! I researched Jack online for my introduction but had to cut down the info to keep it fun and exciting. I also read his entire book series. The biggest thing I learned was confidence. I practiced my introduction and had it written down just in case. On the day, everything went well, and I gained a lot of confidence and improved my presentation skills." |
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Mohammed Hamdan Siddiqui
Published in Young Voices of Arabia 2024
“Hosting Darryl and Ella for their session 'From Plant to Plate' at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature allowed me to connect with authors who share my passion for the environment and improve my public-speaking skills. The experience gave me new insights to enrich my stories and deepen the connection with my readers and characters. It’s been transformative!
Hosting refined my ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and engagingly. From crafting speeches to engaging with authors, I strengthened my storytelling skills. It also taught me how to tailor my message for a diverse audience. Most importantly, it deepened my understanding of how words can inspire change, making my writing more purposeful and action driven. It was exhilarating!" |
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The Voices of Future Generations Book Launch Ceremony at the LitFest 2025 |
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First VoFG Book Talks A creative journey into stories and sustainability, the VoFG Book Talks offered our young published authors the space to bring their friends and family to the ELF courtyard and share their writing journey and the anthology featuring their favourite SDGs and stories.
The January 2025 talks offered a unique perspective into bilingual publishing and how it amplifies the representation of children's voices in literature... |
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Celebrating Our Jan-Feb Featured School!
Pristine Private School in Dubai actively promotes sustainability through its "Educate and Elevate" programme, donating educational materials to underprivileged schools across Asia. Their curriculum emphasizes environmental awareness, with students engaging in impactful projects like e-waste recycling and designing eco-friendly devices.
These initiatives cultivate a culture of innovation and conservation among students.
That’s why this February, VoFG invited the young voices of Pristine Private School to share their stories and ideas for a sustainable future.
Check out their captivating entries!. |
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Voice of Lukas Francisco
Pristine Private School Young Changemakers
Kehkashan Basu is an environmental and human rights activist, known for being the youngest councilor of the World Future Council (WFC). She joined the WFC in 2012 as a Youth Ambassador when she was just 12 years old and is currently its youngest councilor at only 24 years old. |
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Voice of Sithuki Senulya Siriwikum Lande Badalge
Pristine Private School
Bridges built with Knowledge
Some wake up without a book,
No learning space, no reading nook. They
dream of learning, just like us, But
without tools, their curiosity rusts.
Their hopes wander, seeking light, In the
darkness of the night.
They yearn for knowledge, they long to know, But
without guidance, they cannot grow! |
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Voice of Imtishal Nauman
Pristine Private School Powering the Future: A Must-Read on Clean Energy!
What If We Run Out of Oil? Imagine life without shampoo, glasses, or even sports equipment! Doesn't that sound impossible? That’s because oil is not just present in cars and fuels—it's in almost everything we use! But what would happen if we ran out? This book explores why we need to find cleaner and more sustainable energy sources before it's too late. |
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Voice of Javeria Fatima
Pristine Private School
Nature Journal
Sunshine is a bright and golden smile coming directly from the sky, filling the world with light and warmth. It is a symbol of energy and brings a feeling of happiness and joy. Without sunshine, the day feels darker, quieter, and harder to face.
The sun reminds us that every day is a new and fresh start. Sunshine brings hope and joy along with new opportunities. It helps plants grow, provides us with clean air, and paints the sky with beautiful colors. Sunshine is a gift that keeps the Earth—and all of us—alive and thriving.
It always brightens our day like a beloved friend. The sun is everything because it lights up the world. It’s also like a superhero, spreading its light everywhere to wake up the sleepy world with its warm, golden hug. |
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Voice of Aania Prasad Kuvalekar
Pristine Private School
Creative Challenge
Story Writing Challenge: Decode the Mystery!
Using the thrilling story starter "The Whispering Turbines," continue the adventure and uncover the truth behind the strange signals! |
- What is the danger the turbines are warning about?
- Who—or what—could be behind the message?
- How can clean energy play a role in solving the mystery?
- Will Illa, Lianne, and Anaya save the day? How?
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Voice of Fathima Ayanah Rameez
Pristine Private School
The Bracelet of Hope by Ward Wissam Al Halabi
A story of change and resolution focusing on sustainability and energy conservation.
Aql and Amal were twins who shared everything equally between them. They were intelligent and hardworking. But as time passed, their country started to lose trees for fuel and other resources, making the twins very upset.
Finally, Aql and Amal set a goal to bring change into their world and make it a better place. Together, they unraveled a solution and invented devices to conserve energy.
📖 Read the full story in The Young Voices of Arabia, 2020 edition. |
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The Pristine Team at the Jane Goodall UAE Awards |
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Embracing New Beginnings
Shama Noman Advisor
What an amazing journey! Voices of Future Generations continues to sparkle with new initiatives, and I'm very proud of our VoFG Community of published authors, parents, teachers, and schools who continue to support the vision of the Young Voices of Arabia.
Putting together a young editorial team comprising 22 published authors is a deliberate attempt to create a community of writers who spearhead all sustainable initiatives and lead the journey of VoFG through meaningful storytelling.
The VoFG Gazette team reached out to schools to collaborate, and they did not disappoint! We now have a list of schools engaged over the next few months!
This is reflective of the VoFG competition spirit, where children write for children to connect, to share, and find representation in decision-making. Collaborating with Pristine Private School for our first edition has been a joy, and a huge shout-out to Ms. Fatema Kashief, Ms. Anila Batool, and the entire school leadership team for encouraging their talented and gifted writers to collaborate and share their inspiring stories.
March and April are flooded with new opportunities for our VoFG community in the name of Ramadan Book Talks, Gifted Writers Story Feedback Sessions, and the chatter around the newly launched VoFG Teacher Champion Awards! I implore you to check out the details on our website to find your placement in a chosen award and share all your wonderful work that you do to support and integrate the VoFG writing on sustainability. We can't wait to celebrate your win!
In closing, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to our wonderful editorial team for their dedication in curating an enjoyable reading experience for our audience. My sincere appreciation also goes to our talented design team, whose hard work and creativity brought this edition to life, along with a special thank you to Ms. Nivea Serrao, the ELF Editorial Manager who supported our team in understanding the attention to detail elements in a newsletter! As with all new ventures, this first edition is just the beginning of your success journey. You have proven that with belief and a giving heart, ideas turn into impact.
Congratulations, and Ramadan Kareem!
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Meet the Gazette Editorial Team! |
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