From Struggles to Social Impact: My Journey of Turning Challenges into Changemaking with Tech
“Start where you are, use what you have, and create powerful experiences.” This is the mantra that has guided me through an unexpected and transformative journey in the social impact space. From struggling with basic communication skills to finding my purpose in using technology as a tool for empowerment, my path has been filled with powerful lessons and defining moments.
The Struggle with Self-Introduction and Asking for Help
In college, I struggled to introduce myself in English even after doing 12 years in English medium based school. I kept to myself, overwhelmed by the fear of asking for help. It wasn’t easy, but it was precisely these struggles that laid the foundation for a journey I had never imagined.
Discovering the Power of Open Source and Community
My world changed when I got my first Android phone. For the first time, I had access to the internet, and that became my gateway to discovering open-source communities. Through Google Groups, I connected with people from all over the world who were eager to help and share their knowledge and it is a great way for me to improve my communication through learning by doing.
The defining moment? I sent an email expressing my interest in contributing, and a reply from Spain made me realize I wasn’t alone. Then, a CD from the Netherlands arrived in the post, introducing me to the world of FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) and the possibilities that can arise through openness, collaboration and transparency. It became clear to me that the internet wasn’t just a tool for consumption; it was a gateway to learning, sharing, and building together.
Bringing the Power of the Internet to My Village
As I experienced the transformative potential of open-source communities, I realized that this knowledge needed to reach grassroots communities. I started initiatives at the village level, where I used simple, locally available resources to empower others with digital skills. My work with the Mozilla community, particularly the Webmaker project, helped rural youth and children shift from being mere users of the internet to creators who owned their digital experience.
We made it about the community and experience not just as learning — this way learning was made creative and fun.
Understanding the Ground Realities and Limitations
But as I journeyed deeper into the grassroots level, I understood the complexities and challenges that come with working in diverse social contexts. For example, my ethnographic research across South Asia revealed that for many people in Bangladesh, Facebook is the internet. Similarly, the ‘big Indian parent dream’ shapes the edtech landscape in India.
These insights shaped my understanding of how to make technology more relatable, accessible, and impactful for communities often left behind by mainstream tech narratives.
The Reality Check That Changed Everything
After spending years as part of the Mozilla community, I faced a choice — move to Europe or stay and work on the ground. I chose the latter. I returned to my roots and started a cybercafe to empower local communities with the idea of “Digital Literacy as a tool for self-empowerment”. It was here that I encountered a daily wage worker who needed to update his Aadhar details to receive ration for his family. He had to forego a day’s wage of ₹120 to travel to my center, only to face a technical glitch that prevented him from completing his task. This means he will have to come back again and his family of 3 daughters and wife would struggle to have food.
That encounter was my wake-up call. I realized I was not addressing the core issues faced by people like him. It was at that moment that I made a tough but necessary decision — to let go of my cybercafe and rethink how I could create meaningful impact across the country. How can I make clones of me to be in every village where youth of the village helps the community needs.
The Turning Point: Finding My ‘Perfect Thali’ with Reap Benefit (RB)
Unsure of my next steps, I knew one thing for certain: I wanted to create a system where individuals like me, equipped with tech skills, could be present in every village across India. I sought an opportunity that combined technology, youth empowerment, skills development, on-ground change, and social impact — and that’s when I discovered Reap Benefit (RB).
Joining RB was like finding my ‘perfect thali.’ It had everything I was looking for: an emphasis on technology as an enabler, youth as changemakers, and a focus on creating measurable, on-ground impact. I started as a mentor, and as the pandemic unfolded, my role evolved into a tech lead, allowing me to leverage my skills to drive scalable change.
Today, it has been 6 years and its the best decision I have made — doesn’t mean that I don’t have challenges but all these challenges and struggles are worth going through both at the individual and organisational level.
Lessons Learned on This Journey
- Start Where You Are, Use What You Have
When I began, I had nothing but an Android phone and an eagerness to learn. Today, I see the value in starting with whatever you have at your disposal. It’s the first step that sets everything in motion. - Make Decisions for the Larger Good, Even When It’s Tough
Shutting down my cybercafe was one of the hardest decisions I ever made, but it was necessary to shift my focus toward solving deeper issues. In the social sector, the right decision isn’t always the easiest — it’s about serving the larger community, even when it challenges your comfort. - Powerful Experiences Become Core Memories
Whether it was receiving that CD from the Netherlands or watching children explore the internet for the first time, these experiences became core memories that shaped my journey. They remind me why creating meaningful, impactful moments is at the heart of social change. - Trust the Process and Embrace Uncertainty
After closing my cybercafe, I wasn’t sure what the future held. Yet, it was in embracing that uncertainty that I discovered my true calling with RB. Sometimes, trusting the process means allowing space for opportunities to find you. RB taught me a valuable lesson: you don’t have to navigate this journey alone; having help and a support system is essential
My Call to Action for You
In whatever role you play, how can you create powerful experiences with whatever you have, keeping the person at the center of your efforts? How can you make technology more relatable, accessible, and impactful for the communities you serve?
I invite you to join me in this journey — to think beyond limitations, to see technology as a tool for empowerment, and to remember that no step is too small when taken with purpose.
