In 2001, in Bhawani Kunj—an unauthorized colony tucked behind D-2, Vasant Kunj—early learning spaces were almost entirely absent for the children of daily wage workers, domestic helpers, and laborers. While private play schools for more privileged children were common, those from underserved communities had few, if any, such opportunities.

One afternoon, a laborer walked into The Wonder Years, a local private play school, with his young son. He was looking for admission. The moment was simple but deeply significant—it raised a fundamental question: wasn’t this child equally deserving of a safe, nurturing space to learn and grow?

At the time, the school operated within a business model designed for a specific clientele. Yet the presence of this child and his father challenged that idea. If the space, resources, and intent were already there, could they not also serve children who had nowhere else to go?

This question sparked the beginning of Disha—an afternoon learning space created using the same classrooms, materials, and a shared belief that education should be for all. The first volunteer, Mrs. Leela Hari Haran, a supportive neighbor, stepped in to teach the children.

From that day on, the empty classrooms came alive in the afternoons—with laughter, questions, and the quiet determination of children eager to learn. What began as a small act of inclusion gradually grew into something larger and deeper: a commitment to equity, dignity, and opportunity.

That early seed has today grown into Nai Disha Educational and Cultural Society, an organisation dedicated to creating learning spaces that recognise the potential in every child. Rooted in the same belief that sparked its founding, Nai Disha continues to stand for one simple truth: every child deserves a chance, a space, and a future.