In a small classroom in rural Tamil Nadu, a young boy adjusts a VR headset over his eyes. Within seconds, his world shifts from chalk-stained blackboards to a vibrant 3D simulation of robots and coding tasks. The spark of wonder in his eyes reflects a revolution led by 22-year-old Harshini Kishore Singh, who is transforming rural education, one child at a time.
By day, Harshini is a passionate educator training underprivileged children in digital literacy, internet safety, and entrepreneurship. By night, she works an IT job to fund her dream bridging the digital divide for India’s rural youth.
From a Teenage Dreamer to a Rural Change-Maker
Hailing from Madurai, Harshini’s entrepreneurial journey began when she was just 16 years old. Her first venture in corporate gifting sparked her love for business and innovation. Though the venture didn’t succeed, it planted the seed of resilience and self-learning that continues to guide her.
Moving to Bengaluru for her BBA in Entrepreneurship at Jain (Deemed-to-be) University, Harshini discovered that entrepreneurship could be more than just profit it could be purpose. During her college years, she interned during the day, attended classes in the evening, and volunteered with Teach for India, where she taught emotional and social skills to children from underprivileged backgrounds.
“That experience changed me completely,” she recalls. “Those kids didn’t have parents or a stable home, yet they were full of dreams. I realized education had to go beyond academics it had to empower.”
Building Knowledge, One Byte at a Time
At just 18, Harshini joined the Google Operations Centre in Bengaluru, becoming one of the youngest employees with a package of ₹9 LPA. Instead of using her earnings for comfort, she reinvested them into her vision empowering rural children through education and technology.
She began working with DigiSafe, a cybersecurity education company founded by her sister, Sushmitha Kishore Singh, conducting workshops that helped students understand online threats. Soon, Harshini became a Certified Cyber Crime Intervention Officer, enabling her to officially train children in internet safety and responsible digital behavior.
But as she interacted with rural students, she realized a larger gap many of them had never even used a computer, let alone learned about cybersecurity. That’s when Rural Tech Rise was born.
The Birth of Rural Tech Rise
Founded in 2024, Rural Tech Rise is Harshini’s flagship initiative aimed at introducing AI, VR, robotics, and entrepreneurship education to children in rural India. Her team carries VR headsets donated by an Australian university to remote schools, letting students experience immersive learning first-hand.
“We design our own curriculum and teach in the children’s local language,” she shares. “It’s not just about technology it’s about showing them that they, too, can be creators and innovators.”
Through Rural Tech Rise, Harshini and her team have educated over 5,000 children across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, conducting workshops on cybersecurity, digital literacy, and ethical hacking.
Turning Students into Entrepreneurs
Beyond technology, Harshini’s goal is to shape young entrepreneurs. Her “Rural Shark Tank” initiative gives rural students the opportunity to pitch their own business ideas with winners receiving seed funding and mentorship.
“Our aim is to make them think like problem-solvers,” says Harshini. “They should learn that business is about creating impact, not just profit.”
Under her mentorship, children as young as 13 years old have launched small ventures from teaching science through magic to planning their own service businesses. These projects give children the confidence to dream beyond their circumstances.
Fuelled by Passion, Powered by Purpose
Harshini continues to work night shifts at Bright Champ, an EdTech company, to fund her daytime mission. Despite limited resources and community skepticism, she remains steadfast.
“Some people thought we were doing this for attention, but registering the organization gave us credibility. Every time a child learns something new, it makes the struggle worth it,” she says.
Looking ahead, Harshini dreams of creating a self-sustaining education ecosystem, expanding her team to 100+ members, and offering scholarships for rural students to access quality education.
“In the end, it’s not just about teaching technology,” she reflects. “It’s about teaching children to believe in themselves. If every young person took responsibility for their community, no part of India would be left behind.”
Through sheer grit and compassion, Harshini Kishore Singh is proving that change doesn’t wait for the right time it begins when passion meets purpose.
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