Two teenage Indian-American sisters are helping to reshape education in one of India’s most remote regions, bringing science, technology and creative learning opportunities to classrooms in the Sundarbans that once relied almost entirely on blackboards and textbooks.At Swapnopuron Shiksha Niketan in Hingalganj, a quiet but significant transformation is underway. Students are 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 youth-led non-profit association with the United States With Our Hearts (WOH), and the Katakhali Swapnopuron Welfare Society, an Indian charitable entity. WOH was founded by sisters Nisha Tara Saraiya and Nimisha Saraiya, with founding members Alexis.Jain, Andrew Jain, and Gavin Bender in 2020 with the mission of expanding 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-the-ground visits and sustained remote engagement. Their efforts helped the Society to raise funds from companies based in India, which allowed the school to build permanent classrooms, set up a computer laboratory with Internet access, provide laptops to teachers, introduce uniforms, and organize safe transportation through a school bus.In the remote Sundarbans, where classrooms were once on bamboo stilts and educational opportunities were scarce, the initiative is helping to reimagine what a rural school can be. From building permanent classrooms and digital infrastructure to introducing STEAM-based learning, the effort aims to create opportunities that were once unimaginable for many students in the region.“What we saw when we visited the school for the first time in 2023 was a place 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. He was with us.”His sister and co-founder, Nimisha Saraiya, said the organization focused on building a sustainable ecosystem rather than offering one-time support. “We spent the time to understand what the school really needs, talking to teachers, parents and students. The goal has always been to create an environment where children are not only attending 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 the labs what they learn in the classroom.”This shift is most visible in WOH’s latest initiative with the school: the move from STEM to STEAM education. WOH is working diligently with Swapnopuron to establish STEAM science labs and dedicated compounds, aimed at making learning more hands-on and experiential.“At Swapnopuron Shiksha Niketan, our mission is to provide an education that ignites curiosity and enables students to become problem solvers,” said secretary Satarupa Majumdar. I 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 planned compound laboratory will align with CBSE standards and provide facilities for physics, chemistry and biology experiments. Students will be able to use scientific instruments, conduct chemical reactions safely, and study biological patterns in detail – opportunities that were once unimaginable in this region.Meanwhile, the STEAM laboratory is designed as a multidisciplinary space where science meets creativity. Students will work with electronics kits, learn coding, and explore design thinking. Tools like 3D printers allow them to turn ideas into tangible models, helping to make abstract concepts easier to understand.The initiative also includes a first exposure to robotics, where students 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 prepare students not just for exams, but for future careers and opportunities.“With Our Hearts also supported academic development beyond infrastructure. During a recent visit in January, the WOH team worked with teachers to develop a technology-integrated curriculum across multiple subjects. Recently, students crafted very comprehensive digital decks on current and global affairs (such as the impact of AI in the past, present and future) and then presented them to WOH during an online check-in meeting in April.Yet challenges remain. Like many rural schools, SwapnopuronShiksha Niketan faces declining enrollment in upper grades as students face economic and social barriers to continuing their education. Current efforts are focused 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 children can dream bigger.”
