Two teenage Indian-American sisters are helping 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 chalkboards and textbooks.At Swapnopuron Shiksha Niketan in Hingalganj, a quiet but significant transformation is underway. Students are being introduced to a new way of learning — one that encourages curiosity, experimentation, and ambition through technology-enabled and experiential education. The shift is being driven by a long-term partnership between the US-based youth-led nonprofit With Our Hearts (WOH), and Katakhali Swapnopuron Welfare Society, an Indian charitable entity. WOH was founded by sisters Nisha Tara Saraiya and Nimisha Saraiya, alongside founding members AlexisJain, Andrew Jain, and Gavin Bender in the year 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-ground 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 through a school bus.In the remote Sundarbans, where classrooms once stood on bamboo stilts and educational opportunities were scarce, the initiative is helping reimagine what rural schooling can look like. 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 first visited the school 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. That stayed with us.”Her sister and co-founder, Nimisha Saraiya, said the organisation has focused on building a sustainable ecosystem rather than offering one-time support. “We have spent time understanding what the school actually needed, speaking to teachers, parents, and students. The goal has always been to create an environment where children don’t just attend school, but truly learn and grow.”“What is encouraging now is that we are moving beyond basic access,” Nisha added. “It’s about depth — how students engage with learning, how they ask questions, and how they apply in labs what they learn in classrooms.”That 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 dedicated STEAM and composite science labs, aimed at making learning more hands-on and experiential.“At Swapnopuron Shiksha Niketan, our mission is to provide education that ignites curiosity and empowers students to become problem-solvers,” said Secretary Satarupa Majumdar.“We believe learning must go beyond textbooks, which is why we are partnering with WOH to build spaces where children can experiment and explore.”The planned composite lab 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 models in detail– opportunities that were once unimaginable in this region.Alongside this, the STEAM lab is envisioned as a multidisciplinary space where science meets creativity. Students will work with electronics kits, learn coding, and explore design thinking. Tools like 3D printers will allow them to turn ideas into tangible models, helping 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 skills and teamwork, 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 multiple subjects. Recently, the students crafted very thorough digital decks on current, 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 higher grades as students encounter economic and social barriers to continuing their education. Current efforts are focused on improving student retention through community outreach, mentorship, and more engaging learning experiences.“We are not just building classrooms; we are building a future,” Majumdar said. “With the right support, these children can dream bigger.”