The Story So Far

APRIL 2021

When the world was in the throes of a pandemic, Abir Sawhney, Aniruddha Iyer Bali, Ransher Brar, Sift Sandhu and Tiya Chhabra, decided to share positive news with each other across Current Affairs, Science, Technology and Business News . We shared some cool book ideas to read and movie reviews to beat the ennui. The weekly calls, goaded by our school teacher Ms Neelima Singh, culminated into a e-weekly newspaper called "The World This Week", that began in May 2021.

Pandemic Online Collaboration
Creative Writing and Mentorship
MAY 2023

A few from the core team decided to take a break from the weekly timelines to focus on music, ballet amongst other things. A new editorial team took over the reins under the continued guidance of Valuez Gurucool the ed-tech who believed in the power of writing and more importantly us. They have been instrumental in distributing the paper through their Ed tech company, mentoring us, offering us suggestions and helping us edit, design and the layout of the paper since May 2021. Aniruddha Iyer Bali, Kartik Anand, Khyati Samnani, Kimaya Modi and Siddharth Gupta continued to write, debate and sometimes oscillate between how much to keep and how much to delete from the final edit. We finally decided to take a hiatus in October 2024 with challenges of collaborating with board exam for one, boarding school for another turning to be deterrent.

OCTOBER 2025

The much needed break of a year helped us to regroup, refocus, realign, and reinvent our core ideology with an almost new editorial board of young minds. We had one more thing in common, we are in a boarding school together where weekends are spent bonding over books and games. The paper moved to being a fortnightly and between mid-terms and trials, the rebranded paper called "The World Around Us", was born. The ideology remains the same but now as teen boys we decided to write and manage the paper with a laser sharp focus on issues that plague, bother and amuse our generation.

Boarding School Life and Reading
Creative Writing and Mentorship
NOVEMBER 2025

Co-founded by Aniruddha Iyer Bali, Sabir Singh Ahuja, Vaibhav Sudarshan Uppal and Vihaan Sudarshan Uppal, the first edition rolled out on 25th November 2025, just as we were packing our bags to head home for the winter break. The encouragement of the Head Master, House Masters, Valuez Gurucool and our friends from the school ensured we were on the right track. Winter of 2025 was spent meeting often, nudging classmates to write and read the paper and envisioning what we must do going forward.

Community Education and Reach
Present

Partnering with inchpaper.com, We Care Foundation partner schools, DAV schools, Phagwara was another step towards ensuring the paper reached a far wider audience. Guest editors and columnists, interviews with changemakers and real community impact is what drives us besides choir practice and football in school. Weekends are spent writing, catching up in the library and trying to keep ourselves abreast of all that seems to currently be happening in the world.

Core Team

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Aniruddha Iyer Bali

Founder & Editor

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Sabir Singh Ahuja

Founder & Editor

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Vaibhav Sudarshan Uppal

Founder & Editor

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Vihaan Sudarshan

Founder & Editor

What Drives Us

Environmental Advocacy

Advocating for sustainable living, including our long-running campaign against the use of polluting fire crackers.

Compassion & Empathy

Through our "Heal the World" series, we shed light on challenges faced by underprivileged and war-affected individuals worldwide.

Reader's speak

The World Around Us is a newsletter that is, in a nutshell, PERFECT. All types of topics are covered - including international news, tech, sports and everything in between. It has this ability to just keep one engrossed. I believe that everyone can enjoy reading these newsletters, whether it’s an adult or a kid. It’s super engaging, casual, and the mix of serious and creative topics makes it super chill. It talks about current affairs, gaming, and even gives you book recommendations! I really love to see an initiative like this. Hats Off!!

Kabir Singh Dev Public School, Amritsar

Writing for The World This Week has been a really fun and interesting experience for me. Every week, I got the chance to write about different topics like the environment, culture, entertainment, and science. This made me more curious about what is happening around the world and helped me learn many new things.
Being part of the magazine also improved my writing and research skills. I learned how to find information, organise my ideas, and present news in a clear and engaging way. It also helped me become more confident in expressing my thoughts and opinions.
I truly enjoyed being a contributor to The World This Week. It was not only a great learning opportunity but also a very enjoyable journey. This experience has inspired me to continue writing and stay updated with current events in the future.

Khyati Samnani Ex editor, Grade 9 | The Shri Ram School, Aravali

As a parent, it has been a truly enriching experience to see my daughter contribute regularly to The World This Week. This platform not only encouraged her to stay informed about current events but also helped her develop consistency, responsibility, and confidence in expressing her thoughts through writing.
The boys and girls put in tremendous effort in planning, sending timely reminders, following up with each other, and thoughtfully distributing and allocating news topics among the contributors. Their commitment created a structured yet encouraging learning environment and were able to experience the discipline of deadlines, the excitement of collaborative learning, and the joy of seeing their work published. As a parent, I deeply appreciate the time, energy, and care invested in making this initiative meaningful and most importantly sustainable.
The World This Week has been a wonderful platform for young minds to grow, explore, and build important life skills, and we are glad, Khyati could be a part of it.

Dr. Manish Samnani Parent

As a teacher, I am always looking for meaningful and relatable resources that truly engage my students while building their language, awareness and critical thinking. This newsletter, written by teen boys, has become a classroom tool.
What makes it so impactful is that the voices are young, genuine, the perspectives are fresh and the topics resonate deeply with young learners. In my classroom, it opens up space for honest discussions—about current affairs, sports, social responsibility and the challenges young people face today.
I sometimes use the newsletter for reading comprehension, group discussions or reflective writing exercises. It not only improves literacy skills but also encourages empathy and awareness among students.
This newsletter is more than just a publication- it’s a bridge between education and real life.
Kudos to the teen editors!

Mrs Manbina Ahuja English Educator (with 45+ years experience)

As the elder sister of one of the editors, I've watched this newsletter grow from a hobby project into something genuinely impressive. I never expected my little brother's school newsletter to be something I'd actually look forward to reading. But here we are. Every edition covers real things happening in the world - wars, climate, sports, random fun facts, and it never feels dumbed down. These are teenagers writing this, which is kind of insane when you think about it, and it's the kind of thing that makes you genuinely optimistic about the next generation. Really proud of what this team has built.

Aabia Kahai B.Tech (Computer Science Student - 3rd year)

The World Around Us – Newsletter Review The World Around Us is an informative and engaging newsletter by the young managing editors Aniruddha lyer Bali , Sabir SinghAhuja , Vaibhav .S. Uppal , Vihaan . S. Uppal that focuses on the various aspects of our surroundings, nature, environment, society, and current happenings. It aims to create awareness among readers about the world they live in and encourages them to become more responsible and informed individuals. The content covers a wide range of topics such as environmental issues, social awareness, scientific developments, and cultural activities. Each section is presented in simple and easy language making it suitable for students and general readers. The use of facts, examples, and short articles keeps the reader interested throughout.
The basic focus is on awareness and education. It highlights important issues like pollution, conservation of resources, and sustainable living, inspiring readers to adopt eco-friendly habits. Its not boring at all rather creative contributions such as poems, drawings, and short write-ups, add variety for the readers. It plays an important role in spreading awareness and encouraging positive change in society. It would be very encouraging if this news letter is shared with D.A.V schools and other educational institutions so that the students feel that it is the need of the hour to keep oneself away from the negative role of social media and associate oneself with the progressive youth of today ,their ideas and efforts.

Dr. Kiranjeet Randhawa Principal, M.L.U D.A.V College

The World Around Us is a publication by the four young editors, which I really look forward to reading. Although the multiple news channels and apps give me the daily fix of news, there are three reasons which has me looking forward to every next edition of TWAU
a. A youthful and positive perspective on what is making waves in the world around is what I get from here.
b. Since it is not news from the same day, it gives me a great opportunity to sit back and reflect on the happenings of the immediate past and see how it impacts me
c. The sheer diversity of topics covered makes for an interesting time spent engaging with the newsletter.
I wish the very best to the editors and look forward expectantly not just for the next few issues but also to gain from their perspectives and opinions as the newsletter grows and matures.

Puneet Bali Executive Director, Smile Foundation

Reading Your Newsletter was not just information, it was a truly enriching experience. It is wonderful to see young minds observing the world so closely, thinking deeply, and presenting their ideas with such clarity and purpose. What stands out most is your ability to connect facts with meaning thought. You have not only gathered information but also have shown sensitivity towards global issues, Environmental Concerns and human values. Your efforts remind us that age is never a barrier to awareness or expression. Continue to explore, question and create. The confidence and the vision reflected in your work promise a bright and impactful future ahead.

Renu Gupta Ex Principal, Govt College, Nangal

I sincerely appreciate your wonderful efforts in creating "The World around us" newsletter. Your Work reflects deep awareness, creativity and a strong sense of responsibility towards understanding global and National issues. It is truly inspiring to see young minds engaging with topics like Environment, Current affairs and World Challenges with such clarity and enthusiasm. Your initiative shows that You are not just learners but thought contributors to Society. Keep exploring, keep writing and keep shining. The future is in safe hands with students like you.

Dr. Kiran Arora Ex Vice Chancellor, Bahra University, Solan

Your newsletter is a beautiful reflection of Curiosity, teamwork and originality. It is heartening to see such thoughtful ideas presented with Confidence. Keep nurturing this spirit of learning and expression. It is a joy to see such initiative from the youth.

Mrs. Shashi Khullar Ex HOD English Deptt, KRM DAV College, Nakodar

I am delighted to see the effort and enthusiasm reflected in your newsletter. It is not easy to observe the world, understand its complexities and then present it so thoughtfully—but you have done it with great sincerity. Each section of your work shows curiosity, awareness and a willingness to learn beyond the classroom. What makes your efforts special is the spirit of collaboration and the courage to express your ideas. These qualities will always set you apart and help you grow in every sphere of life. Keep this passion alive.

Dr. Sumel Bath Gynaecologist, Bath Hospital, Jalandhar

I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all the young contributors for their sincere efforts and thoughtful expressions. Each piece of writing reflects not only creativity but also a deep sense of understanding and dedication. It is truly inspiring to see such enthusiasm and originality among our students. I encourage all of you to continue nurturing this beautiful habit of writing as it strengthens both your thinking and expression. Keep striving, keep learning and let your words continue to shine.

Dr. Jaswant Kaur Sandhu Deptt of Physiotherapy, Lyallpur Khalsa College

It gives me immense pleasure to go through your newsletter and witness the thoughtful effort behind it. Your work clearly shows that you are not only learning but also observing, analyzing and expressing with great maturity. The way you have brought together different ideas and presented them in engaging manner reflects your creativity and dedication. This spirit of participation and teamwork is commendable and will always help you grow. Your efforts today are shaping a brighter and more aware tomorrow.

Dr. Renu Gupta Deptt of English, DAV College, Jalandhar