Visual Stories from the Ground
Explore Digital Empowerment Foundation’s collection of impactful case stories, showcasing transformative digital interventions that empower communities, bridge the digital divide, and foster inclusive growth.
Visual Stories from the Ground
Advanced internet infrastructure in 10 villages of Uttarakhand II Wireless Aid Community Network
SoochnaPreneur – Community Information Resource Centre (SP-CIRCs), Salem, Tamil Nadu
Barefoot Wireless Engineer: Connecting Indian Villages Through Community Networks
Navigating the Obstacle Course of Life to Succeed- Tahir
Published stories / DEF-Log
I Made Pickles on my Periods and it Didn’t go Stale
There is a considerable difference in the consumption of digital information between rural and urban India. The access to the ...
Access to Sustainable Livelihoods Through Digital Literacy
Sustainable living is not something that exists only in the urban dictionary ...
Coffee Table Book / Publications
At the Digital Margins – The Connectivity Status of Totopara, North Bengal
2025 | By Dhiraj Singha
The baseline study by DEF examines the digital divide, socioeconomic challenges, and cultural preservation needs of the Toto tribal community in remote West Bengal.
The baseline study by DEF examines the digital divide, socioeconomic challenges, and cultural preservation needs of the Toto tribal community in remote West Bengal.
Rural Fact-Checkers for Community
2025 | By Akanksha Ahluwalia
By building local fact-checking networks and boosting financial safety online, the project drives real grassroots change. With a sharp rise in digital access and safer internet use, it empowers women to lead their communities into a secure digital future.
By building local fact-checking networks and boosting financial safety online, the project drives real grassroots change. With a sharp rise in digital access and safer internet use, it empowers women to lead their communities into a secure digital future.
Visual Stories from the Ground
Digital Daan | Device to All | Education to All
SoochnaPrenuer Digitally Empowering her Community
Introduction to GOAL
Community Information Resource Centres Bridging the Digital Divide in India
Published stories / DEF-Log
How ‘DiDi’- an AI Chatbot is becoming the Tech-Guru for Rural Women
Until a few months back, Kalawati, a housewife from rural Ajmer, would mostly watch videos and reels on her son’s ...
Women’s Role in Transforming Digital Education in Rural India
The role of women in care work and reproductive labour has been discussed extensively in popular media ...
Coffee Table Book / Publications
Enabling Inclusion Through Digital Empowerment
2023 | Complied and Edited by: Akanksha Ahluwalia
This coffee-table book weaves together the narratives of remarkable women from India and America. It transcends borders, connecting diverse backgrounds through tales of empowerment, leadership and entrepreneurship.
This coffee-table book weaves together the narratives of remarkable women from India and America. It transcends borders, connecting diverse backgrounds through tales of empowerment, leadership and entrepreneurship.
Enabling Inclusion Through Digital Empowerment
2023 | By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Over the past 20 years, the digital space and scenario have evolved, morphed, exploded, imploded, opened up opportunities, restricted freedom of speech, instilled confidence in the ambitious and also stunted growth succumbing to online bullying and fake news.
Over the past 20 years, the digital space and scenario have evolved, morphed, exploded, imploded, opened up opportunities, restricted freedom of speech, instilled confidence in the ambitious and also stunted growth succumbing to online bullying and fake news.
Visual Stories from the Ground
Women Digitally Empowering Women
Rural Centres Facilitate Access to Connectivity and Devices
From Learner to Leader, Transforming Lives in Rajasthan
Samarth SoochnaPreneur – Mohommad Wazib Ali
Published stories / DEF-Log
SoochnaPreneurship: A Key to Unlock the Doorway to Social Changes
Many SoochnaPreneurs across India have eventually found ways to help ...
Empowering Smart and Service Oriented Women
Women empowerment plays a pivotal role in the overall development of any country besides positively impacting the day to day ...
Coffee Table Book / Publications
Krisarthak: Enabling Farmers with Financial Education & Counselling Services Digitally
2024 | By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The Krisarthak Financial Education and Counselling (FEC) assignment, is being implemented under APART, ARIAS Society, and supported by the World Bank.
The Krisarthak Financial Education and Counselling (FEC) assignment, is being implemented under APART, ARIAS Society, and supported by the World Bank.
Soochnapreneurs – The new age entrepreneurs
2022 | By Digital Empowerment Foundation
The New Age Entrepreneurs shares inspiring stories of women SoochnaPreneurs transforming rural India through digital access and information services. Documenting lived experiences across communities, the book highlights resilience...
The New Age Entrepreneurs shares inspiring stories of women SoochnaPreneurs transforming rural India through digital access and information services. Documenting lived experiences across communities, the book highlights resilience...
Visual Stories from the Ground
Just AI – A Community-Centric Approach to Ethical AI Development
ReDEF’ 24 II The incredible individuals who embody our organisations pillars
Digital Artisans of India Award || 6th July 2024 || Delhi
#JustAIAwards2024: Message from Osama Manzar, Founder & Director of Digital Empowerment Foundation
Published stories / DEF-Log
Stargazing With the Help of Digital Tools
The joy of skywatching is never limited to young children. A sense of humility and wonder ...
An Overview of UN Initiatives and Policies on Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI), a technology ...
Coffee Table Book / Publications
DEF and Digital Artisans of India
2025 | By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This presentation details the work that DEF has done to enable artisans of India, connect them to digital and highlight the dedicated work of a decade for artisan development vis-a-vis digital.
This presentation details the work that DEF has done to enable artisans of India, connect them to digital and highlight the dedicated work of a decade for artisan development vis-a-vis digital.
From Bytes to Rights: 21 Years of Digital Entrepreneurship and Inclusion in Rural India
2024 | By Digital Empowerment Foundation
This book is an odyssey into the heart of grassroots transformation and digital empowerment...
This book is an odyssey into the heart of grassroots transformation and digital empowerment...
Visual Stories from the Ground
From the Kargha: A Story of Handicraft Cultural Preservation
Baank-e-loom: Digital Cluster of Barabanki Weavers
Empowering Women’s Health with Digital Innovation
Transforming GI Destinations: A Digital Revolution in Tamil Nadu
Published stories / DEF-Log
Artisans or Labourers? How Can End Users Affect the Lingo Among Weavers?
A few miles away from a town that is famously ...
Never Ending Learning Through Trainings
I left for Jasidih, Jharkhand on 5th of February for training for Digital Didis’ who are going to work in ...
Coffee Table Book / Publications
A case study on Digital Empowerment Foundation’s Chanderiyaan
2012 | By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Ramendra Singh of IIM (Calcutta) and Pratik Modi of IRM (Anand) conducted a case study on DEF’s flagship programme – Chanderiyaan.
Ramendra Singh of IIM (Calcutta) and Pratik Modi of IRM (Anand) conducted a case study on DEF’s flagship programme – Chanderiyaan.
Visual Stories from the Ground
7th Digital Citizen Summit 2025 Introduction
9th Community Network Xchange – Asia Pacific 2025 (CNX-APAC 2025)
DEF ka MIL Kit for the Multiverse of Digital Fallacies
Published stories / DEF-Log
Digital Citizen Summit Townhall with Dr. Amandeep Singh Gill on People & Platforms: A Townhall Dialogue on Accountability and Co-Creating an Equitable Digital Future
The Townhall with Mr. Amandeep Singh Gill ...
Leave No Voice Behind
India level Civil Society Consultation to contribute to the campaign of United Nation’s ‘Global Digital Compact’ with the presence of ...
Coffee Table Book / Publications
Data Protection for Persons with Disabilities: Gaps, Challenges, and the Way Forward
2025 | By DEF, CDPP & BIF
India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023) raises concerns for persons with disabilities by requiring guardian consent, which undermines their autonomy. This policy brief highlights the urgent need for reforms to uphold the rights of the PwD community and ensure inclusive, rights-based digital participation.
India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023) raises concerns for persons with disabilities by requiring guardian consent, which undermines their autonomy. This policy brief highlights the urgent need for reforms to uphold the rights of the PwD community and ensure inclusive, rights-based digital participation.
DEF at RightsCon 2025
2025 | By Digital Empowerment Foundation
Here’s a consolidated report of DEF’s participation at RightsCon 2025 held in February, in Taipei. The report has details of the sessions attended, the outcomes and DEF’s participation as panelists.
Here’s a consolidated report of DEF’s participation at RightsCon 2025 held in February, in Taipei. The report has details of the sessions attended, the outcomes and DEF’s participation as panelists.