By Foresee Foundation
St. Maarten’s only youth publication Teen Times, a supplement of The Daily Herald, has named Saheli Kirpalani its new Editor in Chief. Kirpalani has been a dedicated member of Teen Times since joining the organization in 2019.
Kirpalani will lead Teen Times’ staff of young writers and will be responsible for overseeing the publication’s content. She will also mentor younger members of the organization. In addition to editorial duties, Kirpalani will guide two of Teen Times’ major 2023/2024 initiatives: She will lead the “Go Solar” project – an effort to promote sustainable energy sources in the Caribbean – and will also spearhead the “Raise the Vote” project, which aims to increase youth voter participation and awareness.
Kirpalani is excited to bring her passion for uplifting young voices to her new role. As Editor in Chief, she hopes to amplify Teen Times’ impact across St. Maarten and the broader Caribbean. Kirpalani’s appointment represents a new generation of leadership for the 26-year-old publication.
Prior to her promotion as Editor in Chief, Kirpalani showed immense dedication, passion and enthusiasm as a member of Teen Times. She also brought forth new ideas to enhance the newspaper issues, worked well with members, applied her volunteer experience through projects hosted and added a unique flair to her articles.
What are some of the activities that Kirpalani has contributed to during her time at Teen Times?
Over the past two years, Kirpalani has devoted her energy, time and effort to Teen Times’ projects/collaborations, such as Christmas Toy Drive 2023, Prom 2023, the Royal Meeting event and SXM Doet. And, of course, being a member of Teen Times, Kirpalani has consistently delivered outstanding articles and has been a great help when organizing Teen Times activities.
What kind of impact has Kirpalani’s work had on the St. Maarten community?
By representing the young voices of St. Maarten through the Teen Times platform, Kirpalani hopes her work thus far has been able to have a positive and meaningful impact. She also encourages young people to be engaged through advocacy and/or community service work.
What are Kirpalani’s future plans and how do they connect with her volunteering experiences?
Kirpalani plans to continue touching people’s lives and continuing her streak of volunteer work in the future by stepping into the medical/psychology field. By taking care of people, saving lives and healing them, Kirpalani is working towards being of service to others all throughout her career. She humbly wishes to one day give back to the community through healthcare, especially in marginalized communities where there is a lack of access and availability of these resources. Kirpalani has stayed committed to doing good for our island for many years: From volunteering through clubs like Interact and Eco-Club, to hosting a question-and-answer session with a spiritual leader, not to mention her exceptional performance in this year’s NYPC (National Youth Pitch Competition); Kirpalani truly embodies an all-rounder student and we wish her the best of luck as she begins this new chapter as Teen Times Editor in Chief.
