SVM Monthly Newsletter – September 2024

In This Issue

Smart Village Movement at APO Workshop in Jakarta | Improving Foundational Learning in Meghalaya | Mawngap School Celebrates its First STEM Exhibition | DD Meghalaya Features Smart Village Movement’s Umiam Lake Cleaning Project on Green Echoes | STEM Workshop Held in Shillong to Inspire Future Innovators | SVM receives GNFZ’s Net Zero Energy Assessment Certificate

Exciting Milestones from Smart Village Movement!

This September, we’ve hit some amazing milestones in our journey toward sustainable development.

SVM was represented at the Asian Productivity Organization(APO) Workshop in Jakarta by our India CEO Vivek Shah and Director of State Operations Tulenam Laloo, who discussed smart villages and rural innovation. In Meghalaya, we hosted the first-ever STEM exhibition at Mawngap School and launched a foundational learning program with education partner Madhi, training 160 teachers to equip them in providing the best literacy and numeracy foundation to primary school students.

We’re thrilled that DD Meghalaya featured our Umiam Lake Cleaning Project with AI Robotic Boats. We also empowered 100 teachers at a STEM workshop in Shillong. Plus, we received the Net Zero Energy Assessment Certificate for our EcoNest model!

Thanks to all our partners and supporters for making this happen. If you’d like to help us keep up the momentum, consider donating at smartvillagemovement.org/donate.

— Smart Village Movement Team

If your organization is interested in collaborating or aligning its CSR objectives with our initiatives, please get in touch with our Executive Director atanna@smartvillagemovement.org

The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) recently held a workshop in Jakarta from August 27 to 30, focusing on the Development of Rural Economies through Smart Villages. Organized in collaboration with Indonesia’s Ministry of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration, and the Ministry of Manpower, the event aligned with the APO Vision 2025 to explore how digital technologies and business innovations can boost rural productivity, sustainability, and the overall quality of life.

Vivek Shah, CEO of Smart Village Movement (SVM), and Tulenam Laloo, Director of Operations, were among the featured resource persons. Their presentations highlighted SVM’s pioneering work in India, where the integration of technology and enterprise-driven solutions is empowering rural communities. They demonstrated how SVM’s models—from digital tools to sustainable business practices—are transforming rural economies by enhancing productivity, fostering entrepreneurship, and improving access to essential services.READ MORE

In a collaborative effort between the Smart Village Movement (SVM) and Madhi Foundation, a 3-day Teacher Training Program on Foundational Learning was held starting on 13th September 2024 in Williamnagar, East Garo Hills, as part of the Foundational Learning Improvement Programme (FLIP). This transformative initiative aims to empower teachers with innovative strategies and methodologies to improve Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), starting with a pilot program in 100 schools across East Garo Hills, Meghalaya.

The training emphasizes hands-on techniques that help teachers craft impactful teaching-learning materials and develop adaptable lesson plans. These lesson plans are tailored to individual learning levels in language and mathematics, ensuring a student-centered approach. Continuous assessment and monitoring are central to this method, creating a learner-centric environment focused on each student’s progress.READ MORE

Smart Village Movement (SVM) proudly marked a significant milestone on 19th September 2024 with the first STEM Innovation Hub Exhibition at Mawngap District Christian Multipurpose Higher Secondary School in Shillong, Meghalaya. This event celebrates one year of successful program operations, made possible through the generous contributions of SVM’s kind donors and immense training by our knowledge partner Curiosity Gym.

Program was attended by Chief Guest, Swapnil Tembe, State Project Director of Samagra Shiksha and Director of School Education and Literacy, Meghalaya, and many other school teachers and students, the exhibition featured a tour showcasing a wide array of STEM projects created by students. Alongside these, skill development demonstrations provided an inspiring display of the innovative, curiosity-driven learning that has been cultivated through the program.READ MORE

We had the pleasure and honour of having our Umiam Lake Cleaning Project covered by Doordarshan Meghalaya as part of their Green Echoes Environment Programme. A heartfelt thank you to the dedicated DD Meghalaya team, led by Mr. Nicholas J Kharnami, for capturing the heart and soul of this initiative. WATCH VIDEO

Facilitated by the Smart Village Movement (SVM) and sponsored by Meghalayan Age Limited, this project brings together the innovative lake-cleaning technology of Clearbot, ECO-Ri’s waste segregation and recycling solutions, and the enthusiastic participation of the Mawdun village community.

Our SVM team is proud to have fostered such a meaningful collaboration. Special thanks to our project lead, Mr. Pynshaiborlang A Marpna, for his tireless dedication and hard work. READ MORE

On 23rd September, North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, and Smart Village Movement (SVM) held a one-day STEM workshop at St. Edmund’s College, Shillong. The event aimed to empower over 100 teachers from Shillong and surrounding areas with innovative teaching techniques in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Hands-on activities, interactive science projects, and app-based experiments were introduced to foster inquiry-based learning and creativity among students.

The program was attended by key figures, including Swapnil Tembe, Additional Secretary of Education, Dr. Collin Z. Renthlei, NECTAR Advisor, and Dr. Chaitanya Mungi, STEM Ready Project Coordinator, IISER Pune.

This is just the beginning of our journey to enhance STEM education across Meghalaya, with a special focus on rural schools. By equipping educators with new tools and knowledge, we aim to inspire curiosity and a love for STEM subjects in students, ensuring they are well-prepared for the future.READ MORE

On September 27th, our Infra and Sustainability Lead, Mr. Pynshaiborlang Marpna, represented the Smart Village Movement at the exclusive leadership roundtable hosted by the Global Network for Zero (GNFZ) at The Quorum Club in Gurgaon. This significant event gathered influential leaders and thinkers to address the urgent challenge of achieving net zero energy across various sectors.

A highlight of the day for SVM was the presentation of the Net Zero Energy Assessment Certificate for our innovative sustainable cottage model, EcoNest. This moment was particularly poignant as it marked exactly one year since EcoNest was unveiled on World Tourism Day. The certification underscores our commitment to sustainability and serves as a stepping stone toward inspiring more eco-friendly housing solutions in Meghalaya and beyond. READ MORE

To learn more about all our projects, please visit our Website or our SVM Annual Magazine and join our SVM Platform

SVM is a nonprofit with 80(G) certification and is also registered as a 501(c)(3) organization. The tax-deductible contributions go directly to fund rural development and empowerment of village livelihoods in pilot areas.

What is the SVM Platform?

The Smart Village Movement platform provides a digital platform for Governments, Educational Institutions, Business Organizations, and Village Entrepreneurs to come together in a collaborative effort to find innovative solutions in rural communities and build ‘Smart Villages’.

Please sign up and access our platform engage with our movement and help us with creative & innovative solutions. Together we are all ‘smarter’.

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