A talented Grade 12 student at Jumeirah College in Dubai, Mehak Dhawan, is leveraging technology to bridge two significant gaps in education: enhancing family communication and equipping women with digital skills that can drive employment and entrepreneurship. Her initiatives, Kindling and DigiSakhi, emerged as distinct projects but share a unified goal of enriching people’s lives through technology.

Empowering Families with Kindling

Kindling is a groundbreaking program aimed at fostering deeper connections between parents and adolescents. It utilizes personalized conversation prompts, emotional check-ins, shared activities, and practical guidance to facilitate meaningful discussions. The project has made significant strides in schools, engaging approximately 2,500 to 3,000 families across eight institutions through workshops and sessions specifically designed for parents.

The initiative expanded its reach through Kindling Connect, focusing on workplaces and organizations that support families of children with special needs. Mehak played a pivotal role at Country Delight, where she organized ten family-engagement workshops, positively impacting nearly 11,000 employees. Following her team’s assessment of the feedback received, Mehak successfully presented a family wellness framework to the company’s leadership, which led to the integration of two recommendations into the revised HR policy. Additionally, Country Delight pledged Rs 18 lakh in pre-seed funding to support Kindling’s ongoing efforts.

Mehak has also partnered with organizations like Radhika Foundation and Healing Nest to adapt Kindling for families with children facing special needs. During seven workshops, she reached over 350 parents and caregivers, addressing vital topics like emotional regulation, developmental changes, and long-term financial planning. Furthermore, another 350 students and parents benefited from the program at Nutan Marathi Senior Secondary School, underscoring its broad impact.

DigiSakhi: Empowering Women through Digital Literacy

DigiSakhi, Mehak’s second initiative, concentrates on providing women with essential digital and AI skills. Initially piloted with 25 women, the program introduced them to essential tools like AI applications, Canva, website builders, and digital portfolios. The pilot was so impactful that it prompted a broader initiative aimed at making digital skills training accessible to women who may not have the opportunity to attend traditional tech classes.

In collaboration with Frontier Markets, DigiSakhi was restructured into short, multilingual learning modules designed for women with varying levels of literacy and digital competency. These modules cover vital topics such as online safety, digital banking, UPI payments, AI basics, design skills, and digital marketing. This comprehensive approach helps women enhance their freelance capabilities or promote their businesses effectively.

According to the latest updates, DigiSakhi has reached more than 15,000 women through various outreach efforts, including over 20 workshops and community interventions across several states. The partnership with Frontier Markets has also contributed to a broader network of more than 50,000 trained rural women, further emphasizing the program’s impact.

Both initiatives have evolved beyond their early phases. Kindling’s focus has shifted from school-based engagement to workplace and caregiver programs, while DigiSakhi has expanded from small, individual lessons to a more extensive offering of multilingual digital content disseminated through a well-established rural women’s network. For Mehak, the essence of her work lies not in the technology itself, but in ensuring that individuals can apply what they learn in real-world situations, enriching their lives in meaningful ways.