From STEM to STEAM: How Indian-American sisters are reimagining learning at Sundarbans school
Two teenage Indian-American sisters are helping to reshape education in one of India’s most remote regions, bringing hands-on science, technology and creative learning opportunities to classrooms in the Sundarbans that once relied almost entirely on blackboards and textbooks.A quiet but significant transformation is taking place at Swapnopuron Shiksha Niketan in Hingalganj. Students are being introduced to a new way of learning, one that encourages curiosity, experimentation and ambition through technology-based and experiential education. The change is driven by a long-term partnership between the US-based youth-led non-profit organization With Our Hearts (WOH) and the Katakhali Swapnopuron Welfare Society, an Indian charity. WOH was founded by sisters Nisha Tara Saraiya and Nimisha Saraiya, along with founding members AlexisJain, Andrew Jain and Gavin Bender in 2020 with a mission to expand access to quality education for underserved students around the world.Since 2023, US-based With Our Hearts has worked closely with the school through on-site visits and sustained remote engagement. Their efforts have helped the Society raise funds from India-based companies, enabling the school to build permanent classrooms, set up a computer lab with internet access, provide laptops to teachers, introduce uniforms and arrange safe transport via a school bus.In the remote Sundarbans, where classrooms once stood on bamboo stilts and educational opportunities were scarce, the initiative is helping to reimagine what a rural school can look like. From building permanent classrooms and digital infrastructure to introducing STEAM-based learning, the effort aims to create opportunities that were previously unimaginable for many students in the region.“What we saw when we first visited the school in 2023 was a place that was trying to function with very limited resources,” said NishaTara Saraiya, co-founder of With Our Hearts. “But we also saw immense potential in the students. That stayed with us.”His sister and co-founder, Nimisha Saraiya, said the organization has focused on building a sustainable ecosystem rather than providing one-time support. “We spent time understanding what the school needed, talking to teachers, parents and students. The goal has always been to create an environment where kids don’t just attend school, but really learn and grow.”“What is encouraging now is that we are going beyond basic access,” added Nisha. “It’s about depth: how students engage with learning, how they ask questions, and how they apply in labs what they learn in classrooms.”This change is most visible in WOH’s latest initiative with the school: the shift from STEM to STEAM education. WOH is working diligently with Swapnopuron to establish dedicated STEAM and composite science labs, with the aim of making learning more hands-on and experiential.“At Swapnopuron Shiksha Niketan, our mission is to provide an education that sparks curiosity and empowers students to become problem solvers,” said Secretary Satarupa Majumdar. We believe that learning should go beyond textbooks, which is why we are partnering with WOH to build spaces where children can experience and explore.”The proposed composite laboratory will be aligned with CBSE standards and provide facilities for physics, chemistry and biology experiments. Students will be able to use scientific instruments, carry out chemical reactions safely and study biological models in detail, opportunities that were previously unimaginable in this region.At the same time, the STEAM laboratory is conceived as a multidisciplinary space where science meets creativity. Students will work with electronics equipment, learn coding, and explore design thinking. Tools like 3D printers will allow them to turn ideas into tangible models, helping to make abstract concepts easier to understand.The initiative also includes early exposure to robotics, where students will learn to design, build and program simple machines. Educators say this hands-on approach helps develop problem-solving and teamwork skills while making learning more engaging. “This kind of exposure builds confidence,” Majumdar said. “WOH initiatives are preparing students not just for exams but for future careers and opportunities.“With Our Hearts has also supported academic development beyond infrastructure. During a recent visit in January, the WOH team worked alongside teachers to develop a technology-integrated curriculum across a range of subjects. Recently, students designed highly detailed digital plates on current and global topics (such as the impact of AI in the past, present, and future) and then presented them to WOH during an online registration meeting in April.Challenges still remain. Like many rural schools, SwapnopuronShiksha Niketan faces declining enrollment in higher grades as students face economic and social barriers to continuing their education. Current efforts focus on improving student retention through community outreach, mentoring, and more engaging learning experiences.“We’re not just building classrooms, we’re building a future,” Majumdar said. “With the right support, these kids can dream bigger.”
Post Comment