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Young changemaker leads tech revolution in India and Africa through 'Digital Dream Labs'
Year 12 student and a 17-year-old entrepreneur at Jumeirah College eyes UAE expansion
In an inspiring tale of youth leadership, global citizenship, and the power of technology, Sarvesh Chandirani, a 17-year-old student at Jumeirah College, Dubai, has brought digital learning to the doorsteps of underprivileged students in India. His initiative, Digital Dream Labs, launched in January 2024 in partnership with the KCS Foundation India, is transforming the educational landscape in Bihar.
Sarvesh was inspired by his work with the Mahatma Gandhi School in Pune in July of 2023, where he collaborated with corporates and donated 15 redundant computer systems. This school focuses on empowering over 350 children of prisoners, daily wagers, domestic workers, single mothers and orphans residing in the slums in and around Pune by providing them with free English education.
With this passion for computer science and a vision to create equal learning opportunities, Sarvesh mobilised funds from various sources in India to set up a state-of-the-art computer laboratory with 20 systems in a government school. His aim? To equip students from underserved backgrounds with digital literacy and coding skills - foundational tools for the future.
The curriculum used in Digital Dream Labs is powered by MIT RAISE, engaging students from Grade 2 to Grade 12 with age-appropriate content in artificial intelligence, programming, and computational thinking. Sarvesh conducts live virtual training sessions weekly with the teachers and students, ensuring quality and continued progress. Trained teachers deliver these lessons to the students.
"When I realised that so many bright young minds in India had never even seen a computer, I knew I had to do something. Watching them write their first lines of code - that's my reward," says Sarvesh. His commitment goes beyond virtual mentorship.
On October 16, 2024, he travelled to Bihar, and spent three days interacting with the students and teachers. He conducted classes with different year groups, monitored progress, and collected feedback to refine the programme. His presence generated immense enthusiasm among the students. One such student, Ragini Kumari, an 8th grader, shared, "Before this lab, I didn't know what a computer was. Now I can type, draw, and even start learning coding. Using these skills, I hope to become a keen computer scientist in the future."
The impact has been extraordinary. In just over a year, more than 2,000 students have received digital training through the lab. Teachers have also undergone regular upskilling to ensure the sustainability of the programme.
The success of the initiative has inspired Sarvesh to scale further. He is currently in the process of raising more funds to launch additional labs in other schools across Africa and India, with the goal of creating a network of tech-empowered learning centres for underprivileged rural settlements. Sarvesh hopes to create wider outreach through his programmes by fostering a more personal connection between teacher and student while training young, enthusiastic students into AI leaders,
Digital Dream Labs is not just about coding or computer usage - it's about unlocking confidence, aspirations, and opportunities for students who've been left behind in the digital age.
His efforts haven't gone unnoticed. Sarvesh was recently honoured with the Youth Empowerment and Service Award by the Consulate General of India in Dubai, in recognition of his outreach and digital literacy work in India. Within his school community, he was also appointed to lead the cultural committee in the upcoming academic year, responsible for organising key events such as International Day and Chinese New Year, while promoting inclusivity through interactive activities.
Outside the classroom, Sarvesh is an avid aviation enthusiast, aspiring to pursue a degree in engineering. He spends his free time immersed in super curricular research and flight simulation, using real-life training scenarios to expand his knowledge of the field.
From coding classrooms to leadership positions, Sarvesh has proved that age is no barrier to making an impact. With a laptop, a vision, and a deep sense of responsibility, he's not just teaching students to code - he is also cultivating responsible AI users.
