Dubai Teen Empowers 2,700 Students in Rural Bihar with Digital Skills

At just 17, Kavin Khanna, a student of social entrepreneurship at Jumeirah College, Dubai, has sparked a digital revolution in rural Bihar. Launching the SkillLeap Project in September 2023 in Kaina village (Samastipur), Kavin has already empowered over 2,700 students with essential digital and financial literacy skills.

Partnering with the KCS Foundation, a NITI Aayog-registered NGO, SkillLeap established a fully equipped digital lab funded by $10,000 in global donations. The center houses 20 computers and employs three local instructors delivering a curriculum designed by Kavin himself—covering everything from basic computer skills to AI, coding, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship.

A teen from Dubai is bridging the digital divide in Bihar, empowering thousands of students with essential tech skills

Kavin didn’t stop at remote involvement. He stays engaged through weekly virtual sessions and visited the center in April to meet students in person. “Seeing students become curious and confident with tech was incredibly fulfilling,” he said.

Currently, 390 students (including 153 girls) attend regular sessions at the center. Courses are age-tailored—from primary students to college-level learners—helping them build real-world skills and tech-enabled ventures.

The program’s impact is evident: students like Shreyansh are coding games, Keshav is building websites, and Sanchi is channeling her creativity into digital art.

Now, SkillLeap has expanded to new centers in Darbhanga and Begusarai, and Kavin hopes to take the model pan-India. “All you need is vision and courage,” he says. “These kids deserve to learn modern skills—no matter where they live.”

The initiative is redefining grassroots education, proving that youth-led innovation can drive lasting change—even across borders.