Young Voices

KUWAIT: Nearly a quarter of Kuwait's entire population is under the age of 14 and yet with the exception of school assemblies, we never hear their voices. During Ramadan, Kuwait Times likes to publish a special series that engages with its readership in a more direct, personal way to learn their concerns, issues and viewpoints.

This Ramadan, we will chat with some of our youngest readers about their lives in Kuwait, in an attempt to see the world through their eyes. What do they see for the future of our beautiful country? What would they improve and how would they change it? By listening to their future plans, stories, and experience in Ramadan, we can remind ourselves and hopefully our readers of the ties that bind us all together as a species. These are the voice of Kuwait's future and we invite them to share their thoughts with us here.

Riley Malcon B Roman is a six-year-old Filipino boy from Jabriya Indian School. Born in Kuwait, Riley stays with his dad, drawing or playing with his favorite Angry Bird toys. "I love to draw Angry Birds. I want to be like my dad (an artist) and do what my father loves doing. I imitate him and always mess up his workplace, so I get scolded," he said. Riley loves Kuwait and the cold weather during winter. "I also love summer because there is no school, so more playing and drawing," he laughed.

At home, Riley plays his favorite Angry Bird game on his gadget. "I love my father - he takes me to places I love and plays with me," he said. Riley also has a pet bird named 'Angry Bird'. "I like my pet bird - what I love the most is the sound it makes. I like to listen it and I clean its cage every day," he said. Riley likes animals like crocodiles, baboons, birds and dinosaurs. He spends most of his time watching animal shows on TV. "I enjoy seeing the movement of animals," he said.

Riley loves Ramadan because of the food and candies he gets in the night.

If you would like your child to be interviewed for this special series, please email us at [email protected]

- By Ben Garcia