Swacchta Project

Opposite the Nai Disha center, a Delhi Development Authority (DDA) park had turned into a garbage dumping ground by the local community. This area was a breeding ground for flies, mosquitoes and had a high risk of life-threatening illnesses like Malaria or Dengue.

 It was the beginning of Nai Disha’s Kishangarh Community Outreach Project. The team shared Swachh Bharat’s vision for a cleaner India and started transforming the place. The garbage was removed, and an irrigation system was constructed using greywater. To prevent locals from using the space as a dumping ground, Nai Disha installed waste management systems and appointed locals to remove waste from the bins that the Nai Disha team installed. 

With the assistance of the 500+ families who live in Kishangarh and 400+ Nai Disha children, the wasteland was starting to become an oasis where people would come to fly kites or for solace. As the work continued, the landscape wasn’t the only thing that transformed - the large group of strangers became friends, and Kishangarh’s community quickly became a large, extended family. 

The project’s vision was beyond transforming a piece of land; it was about a new way of life. Locals were educated on sustainable ways of living, and workshops were held on making natural soaps and insect repellents. Teachers at Nai Disha made their compost to fertilize the land and work towards zero waste or plastic. 

The land is currently a playground, a location for Nai Disha events and activities like morning assemblies, physical education classes, and sports such as Taekwondo and Rugby. Each classroom goes around the community with slogans and placards to create awareness about cleanliness. Children set an example by cleaning the streets and talking to the community about the three R’s: Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.

Plant a tree drive

A total of 440 plant saplings were bought and distributed to 240 children to plant the trees in and around the Kishangarh vicinity. It was a month-long drive starting from July 2021. The children continue to maintain their plants and take care of them.

Chhaya project

In a few cases, some children are forced to quit studies to earn money due to dire circumstances like the loss of a parent or some sudden financial crisis. Nai Disha steps in to lend a helping hand by supporting them with rent, monthly rations, bus fees, tuition fees, uniforms, shoes, bags, and other basic needs until their situation is stable.

Awareness Camps

The community is informed about their legal rights, government schemes and policies, the importance of documentation, Aadhar cards, bank accounts, etc. Workshops and counselling sessions for children and parents are organized through legal experts on Child Rights, Child Protection Policy, Education for all, and other Statutory information.

Eco Brick

The disposal of plastic is an environmental hazard. Nai Disha sensitizes the children about this and creatively makes eco bricks out of discarded plastic bottles and plastic bags. These are then used to convert into benches and stools.

Recreational Activities

The children of Nai Disha and the neighbouring community are invited to a movie screening at the Nai Disha ’Movie Club’ over the weekend followed by refreshments. The movies are educating, inspiring, and fun to watch with friends and parents.

Hole in the wall

It is an effective e-learning solution for the underprivileged children of society made to bridge the digital divide. It is a shared Public Computer established to improve Computer Literacy, English, and Mathematics. It was installed at Nai Disha by ATC India to make way for Unaided Self-learning for 6-14-year-old children. Regular interventions are done to update the system from time to time. Children from the nearby communities try their hands at the system. It is helping in expanding children’s horizons.