About Us

 How we Started

The late Captain L.S Jaswal, the founding chairman of Nai Disha, ignited a cause and dream that inspired many to live for a purpose. Establishing this institution in NOIDA, an industrial township on the periphery of Delhi in Uttar Pradesh, Captain Jaiswal, a retired officer from the Defence Services, remained ever young at heart and ready to champion a cause.

His journey began when he encountered Amit, a little boy aimlessly wandering the streets while his parents toiled as construction laborers nearby. In 1992, Captain Jaiswal took up the challenge, initiating the education of Amit. His genuine efforts and passion caught the attention of many individuals and, subsequently, Smile Foundation joined hands to amplify this noble endeavor. The mission? To empower society by providing education to underprivileged children from needy communities. Today, the initiative's caring arm encompasses 502 children.

The ripple effect of Captain Jaiswal's dedication was immediate, as Amit's education journey prompted other children—friends and siblings—to join in. From that point onward, there was no turning back. In 1997, Nai Disha Free Education Society officially came into existence as a non-governmental organization (NGO), duly registered with the Government of Uttar Pradesh. Captain Jaiswal's one-man army evolved into a regiment of half-a-dozen soldiers, all sharing a similar dedication to the cause.

Objectives

• Providing free education to economically backward children.

• Coordinating with like minded organizations to provide free books, stationery, uniforms, school equipment, midday nutrition.

• Organizing Basic Computer awareness program for classes IV and V.

• Creating an awareness for cleanliness and hygiene, importance of literacy and family planning amongst the children, their families and their neighborhood.

• Providing vocational training in cutting and tailoring to the economically backward girls, and ladies ,and helping them in getting jobs in garment manufacturing units.

• Organizing Basic Computer awareness program for classes IV and V.

• Giving a chance to the working-children to come and study with us in their off time by introducing evening classes.

Our Achievements 

The essence of our achievements lies in the transformative impact on the lives of hundreds of children. Nai Disha takes immense pride in enabling marginalized children to discover their self-worth and secure a standing within their communities. Through participation in extensive competitions, our students have not only identified their strengths but have also garnered numerous accolades in sports, arts, and music.

Initiatives to develop analytical and problem-solving skills, discourage rote learning, and enhance conceptual understanding include the use of audio-visuals through projectors, reasoning classes, and reasoning books in the curriculum. An online cloud-based program for classes 3 to 5 encourages exploration based on general awareness, Math, and Science. Students actively participate in various Olympiads covering Math, GK, Language, and Science.

The school has successfully instilled environmental awareness, leading to responsible practices among students. Wastage of electricity and water has been eliminated, making the school entirely litter-free, with green spaces created in and around the premises.

Emphasis on modesty is promoted through storytelling and value-education workshops. The school operates with transparency and simplicity, managed by unpaid senior citizens, minimal office staff, and no professional team, thereby minimizing administrative expenses.

• Nai Disha has facilitated sponsorships for students, ensuring their continued education beyond Class V. Many children, who might have otherwise succumbed to their challenging circumstances, are now empowered to pursue technical and higher education, breaking free from the shackles of poverty.

• Key achievements of the school include maintaining a student strength of around 500 children, a healthy girl-child ratio, and an optimal student-teacher ratio. The school has been recognized as the best study center of NIOS by the Ministry of HRD. Notably, 90% of students secure admissions in English-medium mainstream schools after completing their education till Class 5 at Nai Disha school, with 25% receiving completely free education, including books and uniforms, from Class 6 to 12.

• Awarded the best study centre of NIOS by the ministry of HRD.

• 90% students are getting admissions in English medium mainstream schools after completing their education till class 5 in Nai Disha school. Out of those around 25% are getting completely free education, including books and uniforms etc., from class 6 to 12.

• Many steps have been taken to develop analytical & problem solving skills and to discourage rote learning in children. This includes audio visuals using the projector, reasoning classes & reasoning books in the curriculum.

• To improve their conceptual understanding and encourage the habit of exploring, an online cloud based program is being run in school for classes 3 to 5 in which children answer the questions based on the general awareness, Maths and Science. Children, also, regularly participate in various Olympiads on Maths ,GK, Language and Science.

• Environment awareness was created among children regarding wastage of electricity and water,and cleanliness and as result today on the ground there is no wastage of water and electricity by children and school is now totally liter free.  Greenery have been made in and around  the school.

• A special emphasis on modesty is laid through story telling and value-education workshops.

• School is being run, with great transparency and simplicity, by the unpaid senior citizens with skeleton office staff and no professional team, thus reducing the administrative expenses to bare minimum.

• Regular workshops for grooming and personality development cover Yoga, English speaking, communication skills, environmental awareness, solid waste management, painting, dance, music classes, and outdoor trips. Collaborating with eminent personalities, volunteers, and NGOs, Nai Disha strives to enhance students' personalities and skills.

Beyond being a school, Nai Disha serves as a beacon of hope for future generations, particularly those with the least access. The poignant display of this hope unfolds annually during admission time when scores of underprivileged parents queue up, seeking a brighter future. Regrettably, constraints such as lack of space, staff, and resources compel us to turn away many without admission, underscoring the urgent need for support and expansion.

Our Dreams

Dedicated to serve the cause of the under-privileged children of the society, Nai Disha envisions a totally literate India by 2025. We dream to have :

• A bigger building, trained staff and resources so that no deserving child desiring an education from us has to be sent back.

• A sports ground so that the students can have an all round development.

• Hobby classes like dance, music, painting, etc.

• Vocational courses like plumbing, mobile repair, etc.