SVM Monthly Newsletter – Nov-Dec 2025

Together, We Made a Difference — Thank You!

As the year comes to a close, we’re grateful for the opportunity to pause and share a few highlights from November and December, and to thank you for standing with us throughout this journey. Your continued support has helped turn ideas into action across education, healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable infrastructure, creating real change in rural and underserved communities.

Over the past weeks, SVM expanded STEM education in Gujarat, reaching new schools and empowering students through hands-on innovation. In Meghalaya, we witnessed the inauguration of the state’s first-ever Aquatic Waste-to-Art Sculpture at Umiam Lake, transforming lake waste into a powerful symbol of environmental responsibility. We also launched the Beyond Boundaries Initiative, conducted a first-of-its-kind drone technology demonstration for Arecanut farmers, and took a significant step forward in rural healthcare with the launch of a Cancer and Cardiac Super Specialty Hospital in Vatrak, Gujarat.

The Bhoomi Pujan has been completed, floor plans are finalized, fundraising is underway, and construction is planned to begin in the second half of 2026, bringing hope of quality, specialized care closer to thousands of families who need it most.

From nurturing young innovators to restoring ecosystems and strengthening access to healthcare, these milestones are made possible by your belief in our work. As we move into the new year, we look forward to sharing more updates and continuing this journey together, turning small steps into lasting impact across rural India. Happy New Year 2026!

With hope and action,
SVM Team & Trustees

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STEM Education
Expansion in Gujarat

The STEM Innovation Hub initiative has expanded its footprint in Gujarat with the addition of 4 new schools across Aravalli, Surat, Tapi, and Valsad districts, strengthening access to hands-on science and technology education in underserved regions. The newly adopted schools include PM SHRI Adarsh Primary School (Aravalli), Ashramshala Vaghecha – Diwaliben Trust (Surat), Girls Literacy Residential School – Diwaliben Trust (Tapi), and Vidhyamandir Sherimal (SRMD), Asura, Dharampur (Valsad). Through this expansion, the program is currently reaching 1,005 students.

Classroom implementation is well underway, with students showing high levels of curiosity and active participation during STEM sessions. Teachers cross all sites have demonstrated growing confidence in operating the STEM kits and independently conducting activities. In addition, the STEM lab at SRMD Vidyamandir Sherimal has served as a shared learning hub, welcoming students from neighbouring schools and extending the program’s reach to an additional 436 students.

We are now on Benevity. This Giving Season, Double Your Contributions – Donate via Benevity: Smart Village Movement Foundation on Benevity

Meghalaya’s First-Ever Aquatic Waste-to-Art Sculpture Inaugurated

Meghalaya marked a significant milestone with the inauguration of its first-ever Aquatic Waste-to-Art Sculpture at Lake View Point, Umiam. Created entirely from waste recovered from Umiam Lake, the installation reflects a powerful collaboration between the Smart Village Movement, District Tourism Promotion Society (Ri Bhoi), Meghalaya Tourism, and ECO-Ri. The project highlights how creativity and environmental responsibility can come together to support sustainable and responsible tourism.

The sculpture features a half-submerged globe and human footprint, built from nearly one ton of discarded footwear, plastic, styrofoam, and lake debris—cleaned, treated, painted, and reborn with purpose. Even the surrounding fence is made from recycled plastic sheets. Standing at the edge of the lake, the artwork symbolizes humanity’s impact on nature, while offering hope for transformation when communities unite to turn pollution into purpose and waste into art.

Beyond Boundaries Initiative Launched

Smart Village Movement is proud to announce its collaboration with the Meghalaya Programme for Adolescent Wellbeing, Empowerment and Resilience (MPOWER) and the Beyond Boundaries Initiative (BBI). BBI is a program that connects talented students with global mentors from Harvard and other leading institutions.

Through this partnership, students will gain personalized mentorship,
valuable career and college guidance, confidence-building support, and a safe space to learn, grow, and explore their potential. Together, we are
building opportunities, broadening horizons, and inspiring future leaders.

Empowering Arecanut Farmers with a First-of-Its-Kind Drone Technology Demonstration

Drone technology is opening new possibilities for Meghalaya’s Arecanut farmers.

The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, in collaboration with the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), NECTAR Shillong, Akin Analytic, Smart Village Movement (SVM), and Agri-PMU, successfully conducted a drone-based biofungicide spraying
trial in two villages in West Garo Hills. Drones were equipped to deliver biofungicide directly to the crown region of affected arecanut trees, overcoming the challenge of manually spraying trees over 60 feet tall.

This approach aims to reduce labour difficulties, increase efficiency, and protect farmer livelihoods. A promising step toward protecting farmer livelihoods through innovation.

SPECIAL PROJECT UPDATE: This year, Smart Village Movement proudly launched a new healthcare initiative to establish a Cancer and Cardiac Super Specialty Hospital in Vatrak, Gujarat, a region where access to advanced medical care remains limited. The Bhoomi Pujan was successfully conducted in February 2025, marking a significant milestone, and the hospital floor plans are now finalized. Designed as a comprehensive care facility, the hospital aims to bring early diagnosis, advanced treatment, and long-term care closer to rural and tribal communities, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances to urban centers for life-saving treatment.

Fundraising for the project is underway, and we invite individuals, institutions, and philanthropists to join us in building this critical healthcare infrastructure. Contributors will have opportunities to secure funding for key hospital facilities and departments. Once operational, the hospital is expected to benefit thousands of people annually across Vatrak and surrounding districts, addressing a growing
burden of cancer and cardiac conditions. Construction is planned to begin in the second half of 2026, and we remain committed to transparency and regular updates as the project progresses. Together, we can ensure quality, specialized healthcare reaches those who need it most. Read more

SVM Milestone Moment

We are proud to celebrate our first international SVM intern, Roshan Gurjar, who has been accepted to Yale University, a truly outstanding achievement! Roshan travelled from the UK to Meghalaya, India, to participate in field visits across several Smart Village Movement projects, gaining firsthand exposure to rural realities and the gaps in access to quality education.

Building on these learnings, Roshan went on to lead a successful two-week online English-speaking workshop for students in Grades 6–10 in Meghalaya, creating meaningful learning experiences and confidence-building opportunities.

We are incredibly proud of Roshan’s journey with SVM and inspired by his commitment to learning, service, and impact. We wish him every success as he begins this exciting new chapter at Yale, the future is bright!

Interested in contributing your time and talent to a meaningful project?

SVM welcomes passionate interns and volunteers—locally and globally—who want to make a real difference. Reach out to explore how you can get involved. Connect with us to explore ways you can intern or contribute. contact@smartvillagemovement.org

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PARTNER WITH US: BRING OPPORTUNITIES AND DEVELOPMENT TO INDIA’S VILLAGES

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

Since 2018, the Smart Village Movement has transformed several rural communities in Meghalaya, Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh and Andra Pradesh in our mission to create Smart Villages.

Please access our resources to know more about our activities and impact.

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SVM Monthly Newsletter – Nov-Dec 2025

STEM Education Expansion in Gujarat

Meghalaya’s First-Ever Aquatic Waste-to-Art Sculpture Inaugurated

What is the SVM Platform?

STEM Education
Expansion in Gujarat