This Dubai girl is helping senior citizens embrace new technology

Divyana Maheshwari, a Grade 12 student at Dubai International Academy, has taken a remarkable step to bridge the digital divide for senior citizens. Through her initiative, DIVE, she is empowering older generations to navigate the complexities of modern technology. What began as a personal effort to assist her grandparents during the COVID-19 pandemic has now grown into a global movement, impacting thousands of lives. Divyana’s journey started in 2019 when she noticed her grandparents struggling with basic digital communication. She began creating simple video tutorials, teaching skills like sending voice messages, adjusting phone settings, and connecting to WiFi. These tutorials, initially shared within her family circle, soon expanded to platforms like YouTube and WhatsApp, gaining widespread appreciation. To date, Divyana has created 235 tutorials, reaching over 3,000 individuals across 12 countries. She has also conducted 14 in-person workshops in Dubai, collaborating with NGOs and old-age homes. Her initiative has even extended to helping seniors with Alzheimer’s and cognitive disorders, partnering with organizations like Forget Me Not and Elderly Square. Divyana’s vision is to make technology accessible and inclusive for all, regardless of age. She plans to expand DIVE by involving more young people to dub tutorials into multiple languages and aims to collaborate with the United Nations to further her mission. Despite her ambitious goals, Divyana remains grounded, balancing her academic responsibilities with her passion for dance and spending quality time with her grandparents. Her story is a testament to the power of youth-driven social change and the transformative impact of technology education.