Innovative Finance
August 1, 2024
Context and Problem
In today’s fast-paced digital economy, young people face significant barriers in transforming their talents and skills into sustainable careers. Traditional education often falls short in providing the market-ready skills needed to thrive, leaving millions of youth uncertain about their futures. This challenge is more profound in India, where youth unemployment is 9.2% and vocational education reaches only a fraction of the population. Many talented individuals, especially from underserved backgrounds, struggle with low self-esteem, lack of mentorship and undervalued skills. The problem is prevalent in rural areas and among those pursuing creative or non-traditional career paths. These problems require an innovative approach to be tackled successfully.
Solution
Dreamverse is a pioneering Learning Experience Design Studio that combines technology, gamification, and real-world immersion to equip youth with essential “Future of Work skills.” By focusing on areas like financial literacy, critical thinking, communication, and confidence, Dreamverse helps young individuals refine their talents and transform them into sustainable careers. Its innovative offerings include the Skills Playbook Series, a set of engaging journals that guide users through creative prompts and entrepreneurial strategies; the SparksDream AR App, which gamifies learning through activities like pricing and monetization games; and Hunarbaaz, an Interactive Voice Response (IVR)-based platform delivering targeted content to rural users with limited internet access. Dreamverse also integrates blended learning models that pair digital tools with hands-on group activities, enabling a holistic learning experience.
Impact
Throughout a six-month pilot, the platform engaged 8,000 rural youth across 15+ states in India. More than 4,000 participants embarked on journeys of ideation, experimentation, and entrepreneurship, exploring how to monetize their talents and create value in their communities. Through programs like Call-a-Kahaani and its blended learning approaches, Dreamverse has addressed the unique needs of resource-limited individuals, empowering them to transform challenges into opportunities. The gamified learning tools have seen strong engagement, with users showing increased confidence, improved skills, and greater economic agency. By fostering entrepreneurship and promoting the development of critical skills, Dreamverse is paving the way for India’s youth to become job creators and contributors to a more equitable economy.