Penned By Communications Manager, Aditi Mandali
Thirty-one women entrepreneurs recently completed Sharana’s first Digital Skills for Small Entrepreneurs workshop, marking the next phase of our Digital Lab program.
Mr. Suresh leading the workshop
Conducted over two days by AI trainer and digital marketing expert Suresh Siavkumar, the workshop introduced participants to practical digital tools that can support both their businesses and everyday lives. The aim was to help women build practical digital skills for daily life while enabling them to use technology to strengthen their livelihoods.
Participants learnt how to use ChatGPT to create business content and generate ideas, explored Canva to design logos and promotional posters, and discovered how WhatsApp Business and social media platforms can help them reach more customers.
Women creating designs together on Canva
The sessions were hands-on and highly interactive. The women asked questions, took diligent notes, and applied their learning by creating logos, posters, and other digital content individually and in teams. The workshop concluded with Founder Rajkala Partha, CEO Vandana Shah, and Operations Director Prakash interacting with the participants, reviewing their work, and celebrating their achievements. Certificates were presented by our Founder Rajkala Partha and Mr Suresh.
Founder Rajkala Partha and the leadership team watching an AI-generated video created by a participant.
Our Founder presenting certificates to the women participants
One participant shared:
“This has been an extremely helpful workshop. This knowledge will allow me to expand my business and reach people beyond my neighbourhood, and bring my traditional business onto digital platforms.”
Her words reflect why Sharana continues to evolve its programs.
At Sharana, our initiatives are change-oriented. As communities and opportunities evolve, so must the support we provide. Our Digital Lab and Language Lab program is a reflection of this approach.
In its first phase, the program focused on structured training in basic computer skills and functional English, through which 1,800 students and 70 women were certified. Today, with Artificial Intelligence and digital platforms becoming integral to education, employment, entrepreneurship, and daily life, basic digital literacy is no longer enough.
Our program is now expanding to include advanced digital platforms, emerging technologies, and career-focused digital skills. The Digital Skills for Small Entrepreneurs workshop is the first step in this transition, equipping women with practical tools they can immediately apply to grow their businesses and confidently participate in an increasingly digital world.
As technology changes, Sharana will continue adapting its programs to ensure the communities we work with are equipped with skills that remain relevant, practical, and future-ready.
The AI workshop, one of the many workshops, is one of several learning opportunities offered through Sharana’s Digital and Language Lab Program, which is supported by Straive. Together, this partnership with Straive is helping bridge the digital divide by equipping children, youth, and women from underserved communities with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
