In This Issue

Strengthening Foundational Learning | Field Visit to SVM Healthcare Projects | Spotlight on Local Innovation – Bamboo Trash Barrier at Umiam Lake | School Renovation with SVM & OSAAT | NECTAR STEM Education Lab

Message from the Executive Director

Dear Friends,

This April, our teams witnessed impact in action—from teachers confidently using new strategies in classrooms through the Foundational Learning Program, to healthcare field visits that moved beyond data to hear patient voices and uncover service gaps. We’re thrilled to share the launch of our NECTAR STEM Lab video, showcasing innovation in rural education, and the completion of two vibrant primary school buildings built in partnership with OSAAT. These spaces now offer safe, welcoming environments where generations of students can learn, grow, and thrive.

Anna Fitter

Executive Director

Smart Village Movement

We would love to explore collaboration opportunities, align your organization’s CSR goals with our mission, and help implement for success and impact. Please reach out by emailing anna@smartvillagemovement.org

As part of the ongoing efforts under the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) Mission in Meghalaya, the teams from Smart Village Movement (SVM) and the Madhi Foundation, in collaboration with the Cluster Resource Coordinators (CRCs), have been conducting classroom observations across Samanda Block for the past month. These visits have offered valuable insights into how effectively the training provided to teachers translates into classroom practices like cut-out cards to remember the names of things. Special thanks go to Mr. Augustine D Marak, BMC of Samanda Block, for his constant guidance and support, and to the CRCs for their dedication.



The observations revealed promising progress—teachers are confidently implementing newly introduced strategies, and students are actively engaging with foundational concepts. Witnessing the program's impact firsthand has been both inspiring and energizing for everyone involved. This momentum reaffirms the shared commitment of the Smart Village Movement and the Madhi Foundation to ensure that every child in Meghalaya builds a strong educational foundation. Together, we are shaping a brighter future—one classroom, one teacher, and one student at a time.

As part of its Monitoring & Evaluation efforts, Smart Village Movement (SVM) regularly conducts field visits to assess and improve the delivery of healthcare services. These visits go beyond reports and data, offering valuable, real-time insights into project performance.

Field visits have been a powerful tool in strengthening operations by identifying gaps, bottlenecks, and local adaptations to overcome them. They also support responsive planning and help build strong rapport with project partners and beneficiaries.

Most recently, the SVM team visited Gramin Healthcare Clinics and Apollo Telehealth Centers in Meghalaya’s Khasi and Garo Hills. The goal was to evaluate post-launch performance, understand patient turnout patterns, and identify both high-demand services and unmet community needs.

Findings from the field directly inform targeted interventions to enhance clinic efficiency and community impact.

As part of our commitment to showcasing sustainable and community-rooted innovations, we’re proud to highlight the bamboo trash barrier developed by our partner, Greentech Foundation. This ingenious solution, made from locally sourced bamboo, is designed to trap floating waste at critical entry points before it reaches Umiam Lake. Though introduced some time ago, its effectiveness and simplicity continue to stand out as a model for low-cost, environmentally conscious interventions that harness local materials and knowledge.

The bamboo barrier has quietly become a backbone in our ongoing lake conservation efforts, aligning with our broader circular economy goals. It not only supports waste interception but also reinforces the role of grassroots innovation in environmental sustainability. By recognizing and scaling such homegrown solutions, we aim to inspire more community-led approaches that protect our natural ecosystems while creating green livelihood opportunities across Meghalaya.

The transformation of Lyngiong Government Lower Primary School in rural Meghalaya marks a proud chapter in the journey toward quality education for all. In partnership with One School at a Time (OSAAT), Smart Village Movement (SVM) upgraded essential school infrastructure to provide a safe and vibrant learning space for 230 students. The project, launched in October 2023, focused on improving not just physical structures but also the emotional and cognitive learning experience.

Key upgrades included:

✅ Newly constructed, child-friendly classrooms

✅ Educational wall art using Building as Learning Aid (BaLA) concepts

✅ Improved sanitation facilities

✅ Brand new classroom furniture

✅ A safer, more engaging environment that inspires creativity and learning

This initiative is part of SVM’s broader vision to transform education in rural Meghalaya through technology, innovation, and community partnerships.

WATCH THE VIDEO

A brand-new STEM Educational Lab is now open at NECTAR HQ, Barik, Shillong! North East Center for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), in collaboration with Smart Village Movement, IISER Pune, and Curiosity GYM, has launched an innovative STEM Educational Lab. Designed for students in Grades 5-10, this hands-on learning space will spark curiosity in robotics, coding, AI, and science experiments.  Here's a promo video of the lab. CLICK PLAY