Pramod Kumar Yadav, Society Shaper, listening to tribal villagers' concerns in the presence of panchayat members. Sakaria, Hirapur, MP, 2026
Our Story
Building Rural Leaders in Madhya Pradesh
Society Shapers Network (SS Network) is evolving from the Samaj Shilpi program in Madhya Pradesh — one of Rejuvenate India Movement (RIM)'s most successful rural transformation stories in MP. In 2013, with support from IFA (India Friends Association), a US nonprofit, RIM launched a pilot development program in 10 villages in Chhatarpur district. RIM's pilot involved recruiting and training one young man or woman from each village — a Samaj Shilpi — as a full-time community leader and change-maker. Another key element: building a volunteer network in each village to support the Samaj Shilpi and sustain the effort. Sankalp, an MP-based nonprofit, later took over project management. The effort has now grown to 250+ villages powered by just 5 Samaj Shilpis in 2026! Our focus in MP has been simple and unwavering: • Every child attends school and receives a warm midday meal • Every family can access available government welfare benefits • Villagers can access credit for local employment / small businesses • Farmers receive seeds and fertilizers for innovative farming
The cumulative results have been impressive. From irregular children's meals in 2013 to 84,000 warm midday meals every day, and direct support to 11,000 villagers in 2025–26. What drives this transformation? A cadre of rural young men and women trained to lead sustained, community-led development. What makes it sustainable? Gram Vikas Samitis — groups of 15–20 local volunteers in every village, now a remarkable force of 3,500 committed villagers ensuring progress continues long after external support ends. In 2026, this program is evolving as the Society Shapers Network (SSN) — a statewide platform in MP to scale and deepen the model's impact through fellowship, technology, and inter-village learning. SSN is ready for the next phase of its impact. Are you?
Rural Madhya Pradesh: Challenge & Opportunity
Madhya Pradesh is home to some of India's most underserved rural communities. Poor access to education, nutrition, health, and government welfare schemes has kept millions trapped in cycles of poverty — not for lack of will, but for lack of organized, sustained local leadership. SSN exists to fill that gap.
The Society Shaper Model
Each Society Shaper is a young person (18–28) from the very village they serve. They receive a stipend, structured training, ongoing mentorship, and access to a peer network.
Each Society Shaper works with a Gram Vikas Samiti (GVS) — a volunteer committee of 10–15 local citizens.
3,200+
Society Shapers Trained
250+
Villages Served
3,500
GVS Volunteers
84,000
Meals Per Day
12 Years
Years of Impact
Built to Last: The Self-Sustaining Village Model
SSN's design intentionally builds local ownership. GVS committees are trained to operate independently and Society Shapers become community mentors after their fellowship.
Where We're Going
SSN's vision is a Madhya Pradesh where every rural village has trained, connected youth leadership.
250+
Current villages in network
2,500
Society Shapers target by 2028
50,000+
Citizens reached through network
Leadership Pipeline
SSN Fellowship
SSN Fellowship is the structured pathway for high-performing Society Shapers who want to deepen their skills, take on multi-village leadership roles, and eventually join SSN's professional network.
What Fellows Do
SSN Fellows manage clusters of 15–20 villages. The first step is gathering baseline data and developing a Gram Vikas Samiti (GVS) of 15–20 volunteers in every village. They will receive intensive training, lead GVS, and coordinate with district government officials on behalf of villagers. They are expected to become the link between organizational strategy and GVS-led village-level action.
120+
Active Fellows
3–5
Fellows Per Village
2 Years
Fellowship Duration
100%
From Rural Communities
Work With Us
Partner with Society Shapers Network
SSN welcomes partnerships with foundations, CSR programs, government bodies, and academic institutions aligned with rural youth development.
Get in TouchWhat Guides Us
Community Ownership
Solutions designed by and for communities. We follow the village.
Sustained Commitment
Change takes time. We invest in multi-year relationships, not one-off interventions.
Dignity and Respect
Every interaction with Fellows, families, and officials is grounded in mutual respect.
Ecological Sensitivity
Rural livelihoods depend on healthy land. Our programs integrate environmental stewardship.