Founder’s Note

In today’s digital world, the gap between the connected and the unconnected continues to grow. While technology has immense potential, millions on the margins still struggle to access it. To be precise, about 75 percent of the Indian population are not meaningfully connected.

At Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), we believe digital inclusion is not a privilege, it is a right. Our mission is to ensure that everyone, regardless of geography or circumstance, can harness digital tools for social and economic empowerment.

In 2025, we went beyond connectivity. At the grassroots, we equipped communities with essential digital skills, promoted literacy, and fostered local leadership, enabling them to access their rights, raise their voices, and participate in the digital economy. We have now close to 2500 digital Center’s serving millions unconnected and marginalized populations. Simultaneously, we amplified our work on national and international platforms, sharing field insights, influencing policy dialogues, and ensuring that voices from the margins were heard worldwide.

Challenges remain, but so does our determination. Every connection we make, every skill we enable, and every voice we amplify brings us closer to a fair and inclusive digital future.

This 2026, I invite you to join us in this journey. Together, let’s continue defending the margins and building a world where technology truly serves everyone.

Osama Manzar
Founder & Director, Digital Empowerment Foundation