SVM Monthly Newsletter- May 2023

In This Issue

Gramin Health Care Clinics: Transforming Rural Healthcare in Meghalaya | Smart Village Community Learning Centre Demonstrates How Hygge Energy’s Technology Can Be Effectively Used For Economic Growth | Fueling Dreams: The Impact of Sohrarim’s Innovation Hub | Empowering Rural Learners through Entrepreneurship Development: Introducing Nano Grants

Dear Friends,

Welcome to our latest newsletter! In this May edition, we highlight some of the innovative work being done to transform rural communities in India. First, we take a closer look at Gramin Health Care Clinics, which are revolutionizing healthcare in Meghalaya by providing accessible and affordable medical services to rural communities. By collaborating with multiple stakeholders like private enterprises, UC Berkeley, and NGOs, and supported and funded by the Government of Meghalaya, SVM has successfully enhanced the health services throughout the State.

Next, we explore the first-of-kind peer-to-peer renewable energy sharing model at the Smart Village Community Learning Centre in Sohrarim. Hygge Energy powered this center that now shares excess energy with a nearby school that was experiencing regular long-term power outages and load-shedding issues, particularly during the monsoon season. This has provided students with uninterrupted power and learning time.

We also showcase the inspiring impact of Sohrarim's Innovation Hub on learners, and how it is fueling their dreams for the future. Finally, we introduce our Entrepreneurship Development program, which offers Nano Grants to learners from rural communities to help them start their own businesses and achieve financial independence.

Please do connect with us if you know of an innovation or company that can help us provide solutions to some of the challenges faced by rural communities in India. Please visit our platform to see some of the challenges and pilot programs:

We are growing our reach with sustainable partnerships that help create organic economic growth for villagers.

When Bitoria, an 82-year-old woman, was diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, and thyroid issues, she obtained her initial medications from a hospital in Shillong. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, she was in a difficult situation as she lived in a small village called Sohrarim in rural Meghalaya. Her grandchild, who sends the supply of medications 40 km away from Shillong, could not send the medicines as a lockdown was declared. Fortunately, she learned about the Gramin Polyclinic recently opened in her area.

“I was so relieved to hear that there was a clinic nearby that I could visit,” says Bitoria. “It was a huge relief for my family, who were worried about my health, and me. This clinic is a great blessing, as it is more affordable and convenient than traveling to any hospital in Shillong. The clinic has been a huge benefit to me and my family, especially during the lockdown when everything was closed,” said Bitoria.

In collaboration with Gramin Healthcare, the Government of Meghalaya supports telemedicine clinics in underserved areas under the State’s Smart Village Movement initiative. This initiative helps Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s goal to provide last-mile access to quality healthcare in the State. By collaborating with multiple stakeholders like private enterprises and NGOs, the Government of Meghalaya has successfully enhanced the health services throughout the State. Read more

Media Coverage:
https://theshillongtimes.com/2023/04/24/gramin-clinic-chain-in-rural-mlaya-proves-game-changer/ https://themeghalayan.com/gramin-polyclinic-brings-relief-in-rural-areas/

Hygge Energy has successfully showcased the first-of-its-kind peer-to-peer (P2P) energy-sharing model in the remote village of Sohrarim in East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya. P2P energy sharing means sharing excess renewable energy with the local communities. On 19th April 2023, using the patented P2P trading mechanism of the renewable power and carbon trading system installed at a Smart Village Community Learning Centre in Sohrarim, Hygge transferred solar energy from the learning center to Tirot Singh Syiem School, which is half a kilometer away. The school was experiencing regular long-term power outages and load-shedding issues, particularly during the monsoon season, adversely impacting its students and their learning.

In August 2021, Hygge installed a renewable power and carbon trading system, which included a solar microgrid, at the Community Learning Centre. The Smart Village Movement and other education partners like Sauramandala Foundation, Project DEFY, Salesforce, Curiosity Gym, and Open Door Project led this initiative. Of the total renewable energy produced, 40% was sufficient to power the learning center, leaving 60% available for other purposes. Smart Village Movement and Hygge Energy collaborated to share one-third of this surplus energy with a nearby school, allowing the school to have a consistent and dependable energy supply and operate without interruptions. Read more

Media Coverage:
https://theshillongtimes.com/2023/05/08/sun-powers-school-homes-in-rain-soaked-sohrarim/
https://highlandpost.com/rural-school-gets-power-boost-with-peer-to-peer-energy-tech/

In today’s world, as technology becomes more integrated into our daily lives, STEM education has become increasingly vital. STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, aims to educate students in these areas and equip them with the skills necessary for the modern workforce. Sohrarim is a village in Meghalaya that has actively participated in a STEM education pilot program initiated under Smart Village Movement of the Government of Meghalaya in collaboration with Curiosity Gym, and this article will provide an update on the pilot program’s status as of April 2023.

The STEM education program in Sohrarim has proven to be a resounding success, providing students with valuable skills and knowledge in various fields. Through this program, students have developed essential skills, such as problem-solving, analytical thinking, and teamwork, which are crucial to succeeding in the modern workforce. The equipment and kits utilised in the program have allowed students to put their learning into practice. At the same time, their projects have encouraged creativity and imparted various valuable skills. Overall, the program has been an incredible journey over the past year, with students fully engaged in exploring multiple STEM concepts and undertaking captivating hands-on projects.

Recently, the learners finished their final capstone projects, which were truly inspiring and exciting. Seventeen students successfully completed the course with flying colors and received a completion certificate from Smart Village Movement and Curiosity Gym. The projects included an automatic tap water system, a remote-controlled electric car, and home automation for lights, all showcasing these young minds’ ingenuity and talent. Read More

The Salesforce Trailblazer Community Labs (TCLs) are open learning spaces situated in rural Meghalaya, India. Initiated under the Smart Village Movement program of the Government of Meghalaya, the labs are co-designed by Sauramandala Foundation and Project Defy with support from Salesforce, Open Door Project, Hygge Energy, Tiny Owl, and Curiosity Gym.

The TCLs offer learners the opportunity to choose what they want to learn, empowering rural communities to explore their interests in entrepreneurial ventures. The Nooks in the labs provide spaces for learners to set up small businesses, and selected learners receive a nano grant to kickstart their entrepreneurial journey. The Nano Grant Initiative is a partnership between Sauramandala Foundation and United Way Hyderabad.

Recently, six small businesses received a nano grant in two TCLs. The entrepreneurs were selected based on their skills and provided with financial and other support. The businesses completed their first learning cycle in various domains, such as jewellery making, woodworking, baking, fruit preservation, amigurumi knitting, and crochet knitting. Read More.

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

SVM is a not-for-profit society with 80(G) certification and is also registered as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit 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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www.smartvillagemovement.org

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