In This Issue: Bridging Gaps, Changing Futures

SVM Foundational Learning Programme: Teacher Training for Literacy & Numeracy | SVM With Apollo: Transforming Rural Healthcare Access with Meghalaya Digital Dispensary (MDD) | STEM – A Catalyst for Change | STEMagine 2025: Igniting Innovation, Celebrating Curiosity

Message from the Executive Director

Dear Friends,

From foundational literacy and numeracy to digital healthcare access and hands-on STEM learning, Smart Village Movement is driving impactful change across rural India. In this edition, discover how teacher training is shaping early education, how Digital Dispensaries are improving healthcare outcomes, and how STEM is inspiring young innovators.

We invite you to partner, volunteer, or learn more as we continue to bring opportunities where they are needed most.

Thank you for your support!

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

From May 7–9, 2025, the Smart Village Movement (SVM), in partnership with Madhi Foundation and the Samagra Shiksha FLIP Programme, conducted a three-day Cluster Training in Samanda Block, East Garo Hills, Meghalaya. The initiative aimed to enhance foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) skills among young learners by equipping teachers, Cluster Resource Coordinators (CRCs), and Block Resource Persons (BRPs) with effective pedagogical strategies. Grouped by school clusters, the participants engaged in hands-on sessions designed to improve classroom delivery and student engagement, aligning with SVM’s mission to bridge educational gaps in rural India.

The training yielded encouraging outcomes. Teachers reported that the Teacher Handbook (THB) significantly strengthened their lesson planning and teaching clarity, while many noted improved student comprehension in basic Math following the implementation of THB-based techniques. Outstanding educators were recognized as Champion Teachers and awarded certificates for their dedication. The presence of senior district education officials on the final day lent strong institutional support to the program and underscored a shared commitment to ensuring that every child in Meghalaya acquires the foundational skills needed to succeed in school and beyond. Read More

As part of its mission to strengthen last-mile healthcare delivery, the Smart Village Movement—serving as the Facilitator, Project Manager and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) partner—has supported the Government of Meghalaya and Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. in launching and operationalizing Digital Dispensaries across five rural locations: Rongjeng, Tura, Tyrsad, Mawdngung, and Dadenggre, spanning the Khasi and Garo Hills.

These technology-enabled centers have significantly improved access to quality medical care in remote communities by reducing the need for long-distance travel and providing timely teleconsultations. Through ongoing monitoring and field feedback, SVM has observed a strong downstream impact, especially among young adults, including improved health-seeking behavior, early diagnosis, and greater community engagement.

This initiative continues to demonstrate how digital health models, when effectively supported and evaluated, can bridge critical healthcare gaps in underserved areas.

In today’s fast-changing world, children everywhere are surrounded by opportunities to explore, innovate, and grow. Yet for many students in rural India, these opportunities remain out of reach—limited by gaps in infrastructure, exposure, and access to quality education.

At Smart Village Movement (SVM), our mission is to bridge this divide by bringing transformational learning experiences to rural classrooms. One of our most impactful efforts is the introduction of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in underserved government schools.

These STEM Innovation Hubs are not just about teaching science or math—they are igniting curiosity and creativity, helping students think critically, solve real-world problems, and build skills for the future. Through hands-on experiments in coding, robotics, electronics, and design thinking, students are not just learning—they are discovering what they are capable of.

For many of these children, it’s the first time they’ve held a circuit board, programmed a robot, or visualized how science connects to everyday life. It’s the first time they’ve seen their ideas come to life.

By bringing such opportunities to the heart of rural India, SVM is helping unlock the full potential of students who have long been left behind. We believe that talent is universal, but opportunity is not—and our work is to change that.

Together, we are building a future where every child, regardless of geography, has the tools to dream, explore, and thrive. Read More

The STEMagine Exhibition-cum-Competition kicked off on 16th May 2025 with great enthusiasm and participation. As the coordinator and facilitator of the STEM Lab at NECTAR Shillong, Smart Village Movement (SVM) proudly supported this dynamic platform where innovation meets education. The event drew vibrant participation from schools and partner organisations, including NECTAR Shillong, ICCO, Ernst & Young, and SVM, highlighting a shared commitment to nurturing STEM talent and creativity among young learners.

Participating schools included All Saints School, Good Shepherd H.S. School, Laban Assamese School, Shillong College, and BSF School. These institutions showcased a range of innovative projects including the process of photosynthesis, smart home automation for mobility-impaired individuals, a plastic recycling plant, an automatic toll gate system, and controllable LED lights using Arduino for a smart traffic system. Read More