The “Mangrove Boy of India”: Swapan Suin’s Mission to Save the Sundarbans
In the heart of the Sundarbans, where the tide dictates the rhythm of life and the land is constantly reshaped by the sea, one man has emerged as a guardian of both the environment and the next generation. Swapan Suin, affectionately known as the “Mangrove Boy of India,” is the visionary behind the Sukher Swarga Foundation (SSF) and its flagship educational initiative, Safalya Academy.
A Legacy Rooted in the Soil
For Swapan Suin, saving the Sundarbans isn’t just about planting trees; it’s about planting the seeds of change through education. His journey is one of immense personal sacrifice. Safalya Academy was built entirely without external grants or corporate funding. Instead, it is a self-funded legacy created from the collective savings of team members, teachers, and students, with every rupee earned from environmental projects reinvested into the 2.5-bigha campus.
Restoring the Balance: Environment & Education
Swapan Suin’s impact is felt across both the ecological and social landscapes of the region:
* The Mangrove Shield: Under his leadership, 500,000 mangroves have been planted to form a natural coastal barrier against the rising tides.
* Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: In a region where the school dropout rate was once a staggering 60%, Suin’s work has brought it down to 30–40% over the last eight years.
* A Lifeline in Disasters: During the frequent cyclones and floods that plague the Sundarbans, the foundation has provided critical response to over 100,000 people. Even the Safalya Academy building is engineered to serve as a flood and cyclone shelter for the entire village.
* Health and Dignity: Beyond trees and textbooks, Suin has championed community health, distributing over 6,000 sanitary napkins to rural women and girls.Safalya Academy: Bridging the GapThe academy currently serves two tiers of students:
Primary Foundation (Nursery to Class V): 150 students are learning the fundamentals of logic, language, and environmental awareness.
High School Mentorship (Class VI to Class XII): 200 students receive specialized coaching to help them overcome the challenges of living in remote island terrains.A Vision for Global CareersSwapan Suin’s mission doesn’t stop at basic literacy. He aims to bridge the gap from remote villages to global careers. His roadmap for the future includes:
Academic Expansion: Upgrading the primary wing to Class VIII by the next session.
Residential Schooling: Providing a safe home and education for children from the most remote “interior” islands.
Career Academy: Launching training programs for competitive exams like the SSC, WBCS, and Army/Defense to ensure 100% employability for local youth.Join the “Mangrove Boy” in His MissionDespite these incredible achievements, the road ahead is challenging. Many students at Safalya Academy still sit on the floor due to a lack of basic furniture, and many travel up to 5 kilometers through difficult terrain just to reach the classroom.We are seeking support for:
Classroom Infrastructure: Benches, desks, and digital tools for our computer lab. * Logistics: School vans and operational funding for drivers to ensure safe transport. * Health: High-capacity water filtration systems for safe drinking water.Your investment today helps Swapan Suin create the leaders and environmentalists of tomorrow.
Get Involved: * Founder: Swapan Suin * Phone: 7074365525 * Website: www.sukherswarga.org * Address: Manipur, PS- Sandeshkhali, Dist- North 24 Parganas, West Bengal