Varun Hiremath Leads the Digital Dreams Initiative for 2024–25: Shaping the Future of Digital Innovation
Varun Hiremath’s Digital Dreams: How One Village Sparked a Rural Tech Revolution.
In recent times we often draw an imaginary picture of an advanced digital revolution. We often picture busy cities, modern offices, or tech hubs.
But in early 2024, something extraordinary happened in the small tribal village of Deolali, Maharashtra. No glitter, no grand launch—only five computers, a trainer, and a dream.
This marked the start of the Digital Dreams Initiative — launched by Varun Hiremath, a renowned finance leader and active social innovator. What began with a small computer lab is now transforming rural India, impacting students’ lives in meaningful ways.
A Vision Rooted in Purpose:
Varun Hiremath isn’t a typical changemaker. He is the founder and CEO of the Fair Deal Wealth Advisors. He is also the Co-Founder of the Hiremath Family Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to bring transformative development in the lives of the rural and underprivileged communities. He began his career as a finance expert. But numbers alone were not enough to satisfy him. He is a futurist and he understood that the microphone was not enough for him to answer all the calls. There were calls of media, mass and most importantly of those voices who needed him the most. He avoided the media and mass but answered to the call of duty! His true mission was to unite rural and urban lives with dignity and purpose through technology.
The result? He initiated a multi-dimensional approach to transforming rural communities through healthcare, quality education, environmental sustainability, polished livelihoods, and digital access. At the core of it all is Digital Dreams — his most ambitious project.
The Initiative: Digital Dreams (2024–25)
The Digital Dreams were launched across the rural villages in Maharashtra and Assam. Digital Dreams is not just about computer skills — it fast-tracks rural talent.
All the 25 digital labs are equipped with laptops and internet access, Microsoft Office, Canva, coding kits, and more. But the real question is who is using them! The local rural youth who are aged between 13–21, and the local trainers lead the way. Weekday sessions teach students not just tool usage, but also how to apply skills to solve real village challenges.
But here's the twist: The students not only just learn but they also earn. They earn through the “Earn While You Learn” mode. Isn't it interesting?
The students design posters, they learn to type documents, and they manufacture ID cards for the local trades — The students are earning money while sharpening their skills.
Pratiksha’s Leap: From Farmlands to Freelancing:
In Deolali, the movement started with a young talented girl named Pratiksha Kadam. She was 16 years old but never touched a computer. She had to walk 4km to school to gather knowledge. She also helped her family on their farm. But suddenly something extraordinary happened that even stunned her!
Just fast forward a few months:
- She now types faster than her teacher.
- She creates digital flyers for local shops using Canva.
- She can manage her father’s crop sale records in Excel.
- The most important thing is that she is now thinking of launching her own village innovation lab.
She expressed her feelings that clearly reflected confidence, she said that “I never thought someone like me could work on a computer,” she also said that “Now, I teach others.” This is the power of true transformation and the man behind it is Varun Hiremath.
Pratiksha’s story isn’t an exceptional one— She’s the first spark igniting change across whole communities.
A Curriculum That Goes Beyond Coding
If you step into a Digital Dreams lab, you'll find far more than rows of screens! You’ll see endless energy, selfless collaboration. You will see the youth discovering fresh ways to imagine, innovate, and lead.
Students learn:
- Digital safety: UPI basics, secure passwords, scam awareness.
- Creative tools: Canva, newsletters, presentations, storytelling.
- Business know-how: Invoicing, freelancing, basic marketing.
- Soft skills: Teamwork, public speaking, personal branding.
It’s more than typing — it’s about reshaping the future for villages once left behind by technology.
The Ripple Effect Across the Village:
Deolali’s lab is one of 25, yet it clearly shows the potential impact:
- 78 students completed the foundational course.
- 22 girls now regularly use computers — a major leap for gender inclusion.
- School attendance rose, thanks to excitement about digital classes.
- Local shops now use student-made product catalogs and digital ads.
- Over 300 families accessed affordable digital services — from resumes to wedding invitations.
Equipping rural youth with digital skills transforms not only their lives but also their local economies.
How Varun Hiremath Measures Success:
Here, impact is tangible — carefully tracked through:
- Pre/post skill assessments
- Tracking of freelance earnings
- School re-enrollment rates, especially for girls
- Showcase days where students present their digital projects
- Surveys from parents and local business owners
All progress is monitored, assessed, and used to refine the curriculum — a data-driven method focused on real human results.
A Future Built on Expansion & Equity
Wait on please, Varun Hiremath and his foundation isn’t stopping at 25 labs. The goal by March 2026 is to:
- Expand to Odisha and more rural states.
- Launch solar-powered labs where electricity is a challenge.
- Develop a Digital Skills Certification Program recognized by employers.
- Deploy Project Byte — a bus-based mobile e-learning lab to reach the most remote tribal belts.
- Above all, growth stays authentic — each lab is community-centered, led and taught by locals.
Skills and Tools Provided:
- Digital Literacy: Typing, basic computer operations, safe internet navigation, and digital citizenship.
- Practical Software Skills: Training in Microsoft Office, Canva, and basic coding platforms—empowering students to create presentations, newsletters, ID cards, and digital art.
- Business and Freelance Skills: Students learn invoicing, digital marketplace etiquette, basic graphic design, and entrepreneurship by serving local businesses (e.g., documentation, marketing).
- Communication and Soft Skills: Programs build confidence, presentation skills, teamwork, and personal branding—all key for employability and self-reliance.
- Tools Used: Labs are equipped with laptops, internet access, educational software, typing tutors, coding kits, and graphic design tools.
Outcome Measurement Methods:
- Pre- and Post-Assessments: Skills and confidence are evaluated before and after training to track progress.
- Impact Metrics: Data is collected on student participation (with gender ratio), freelance earnings, school re-enrollments, and family-level benefits.
- Showcase Events: Student projects—such as ID cards, newsletters, and presentations—are displayed in public forums, reviewed by peers and mentors.
- Ongoing Feedback: Trainers gather surveys and testimonials from students and local employers to measure relevance, improvement, and satisfaction.
- Community Outcomes: Broader measures include re-enrollment into formal education, generation of local income, and greater social inclusion, particularly for girls.
This Is Not Charity. It’s Investment.
Varun Hiremath describes this best:
“This is not charity. It’s an investment — in courage, capability, and an inclusive India.
That philosophy shapes every choice — from teaching methods and evaluating progress to planning growth.
Conclusion: When Technology Meets Empathy:
The Digital Dreams Initiative goes beyond gadgets and coding classes; it’s focused on transforming rural India’s story, empowering one confident student after another.
It shows that when technology is paired with compassion, villages don’t just get connected — they thrive.
From Deolali to Assam, and soon Odisha and beyond, the gentle click of laptops in a humble classroom could be the strongest signal of India’s digital future.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About the Digital Dreams Initiative by Varun Hiremath
What is the Digital Dreams Initiative?
The Digital Dreams Initiative is an initiative developed by Varun Hiremath and the Hiremath Family Foundation that is all about empowering rural communities in India and enabling them to go digital. It is an incredible program which establishes digital laboratories in frequently forgotten villages and provides young individuals, between 13 and 21, with the resources to succeed. In on-job training, they acquire the necessary tech and life skills that will not only enhance their confidence levels but also make them more marketable and prepared to face the world. It is a great way to advance self-sufficiency, belonging, and the future of these communities.
Who is Varun Hiremath and what is his role?
Varun Hiremath is CEO of Fair Deal Wealth Advisors and Co-Founder of the Hiremath Family Foundation. In 2024-25 he led the Digital Dreams Initiative to bring technology and access to rural India. His vision focuses on sustainable impact — not charity, but investing in human potential.
Where are the Digital Dreams labs located?
The program has already created 25 digital labs in Maharashtra and Assam and it is planned to develop new digital laboratories in Odisha and other states in the near future. These laboratories are fully embedded in the communities, run by professional trainers, and accessible to rural youth. Such a local strategy makes the program available, effective, and sustainable, empowering the next generation of tech-savvy individuals in India.
What kind of digital skills do students learn?
Students spend their time in the program learning a vast set of skills necessary to succeed in the modern technological world. They are taught:
- Typing, keyboard shortcuts, and touch typing
- Using Microsoft Word and Excel in daily tasks
- Graphic design and presentation through Canva and PowerPoint
- Basic coding and programming for technology awareness
- Internet safety, digital citizenship, and privacy practices
What tools and hardware are available in the labs?
- Laptops and internet access
- Printers, scanners, and digital displays
- Educational software and typing tutors
- Coding kits for hands-on STEM learning
- Projectors for group learning and showcase events
How does Varun Hiremath’s initiative measure success?
- Pre- and post-training assessments
- Freelance earnings generated by students
- School re-enrollments (especially among girls)
- Participation rates and gender inclusion
- Feedback from community members and local businesses
- Public project showcases and student presentations
Who can enroll in the Digital Dreams program?
The initiative is open to rural youth between the ages of 13 and 21. Outreach is conducted via local schools, NGOs, and community organizations — with a strong focus on enrolling girls and school dropouts.
How does this program benefit rural communities?
Digital Dreams creates a ripple effect by:
- Providing affordable digital services locally (e.g., flyers, applications, ID cards)
- Improving school attendance and re-enrollment
- Helping students earn income through freelance digital work
- Empowering youth with skills relevant for the modern job market
Is internet access required in all labs?
While internet access is available in most labs, the program is designed to support both online and offline learning — making it effective even in connectivity-challenged areas.
What’s next for Varun Hiremath’s Digital Dreams?
- Expand labs to new states like Odisha
- Launch a Digital Skills Certification Program
- Deploy Project Byte — a mobile, solar-powered e-learning lab for remote tribal villages
- Strengthen local trainer networks and introduce regional-language modules
