Donate

Nanhe Khwab — Let Them Dream

Every child we reach is one who stays in school.

Nanhe Khwab is a registered charitable trust that puts underprivileged children into school and then stays with them, year after year, until they finish.

Sponsor a child Volunteer with us

Registered charitable trust 80G tax benefit available Delhi/NCR · Gurgaon

2015 Working since
200+ Children supported
2 Support schools in Gurgaon
1,000+ Donations received

Our work

School is the intervention. Staying is the hard part.

We run two schools in Gurgaon that teach children their first letters and numbers, then get them into formal school and keep paying for it, be it fees, books, uniforms, year after year.

India's literacy rate reached 74% at the 2011 census — but the growth between 2001 and 2011 was slower than the decade before it.

At that pace, universal literacy is generations away. We are not willing to wait for it. Nearly every problem we care about — poverty, exploitation, children pulled out of school to work — gets smaller when a child can read, reason and earn.

So we work one child at a time: find them, get them enrolled, pay what needs paying, and stay in their life long enough for it to hold.

Map of India shaded by state literacy rate from the 2011 census, ranging from 60% to 94%.
Literacy rate by state, 2011 Census of India.
Children in school uniform seated together at a Nanhe Khwab supported school.

Two schools in Gurgaon

Pragati and Unnati

Both schools began under the NGO AID years back around 2010. We now run both of them ourselves.

Pragati started out in a donated shipping container. Today we rent a proper two-room place for it. Unnati came under us in 2023 and runs from one large room given to us by the Panchayat.

What we teach is kindergarten-level foundational education — letters, numbers, the basics a child needs before a school will take them. For many of these children it is the first pencil they have held. Our teachers are paid, and they are there Monday to Saturday.

When a child is ready for formal schooling, we do the part that usually stops them: find a school that will take them, secure the sponsorship, and cover the fees, books and uniform.

Beyond the classroom we run mentoring, extra tutoring and activities outside academics — because a child who feels supported is a child who stays.

Who we are supporting right now

Children whose education we are funding in 2026

(These numbers change everyyear mostly +10 or so as we keep admitting news kids and the old ones cointinue too)

Each one is a specific child with fees paid, books bought and someone checking in on them from class 1 all the way through to college.

50+ Children sponsored today
70+ Enrolled in government schools so far

Ways to help

Money is not the only thing we need

Most of what we do is done by volunteers with day jobs. There is almost certainly something here you are already good at.

Sponsor a child's education

Cover one child's fees, books and uniform. You will know exactly who you are supporting and how they are doing.

Teach a hobby class

Run a session in dance, art, acting or general knowledge at one of our Gurgaon centres. A couple of hours a month is enough.

Medical help

If you work in medicine, help us get the children regular check-ups — and treatment when something is found.

Help us be seen

Write, shoot or edit for our social channels. Being invisible costs us donors, and donors are children in school.

Keep us running

Coordinate classes, talk to parents and teachers, chase paperwork. Unglamorous, and the reason everything else works.

Start this in your city

We have done this from scratch four times. Tell us where you are and we will help you begin.

Get in touch about volunteering

Stories in our bag

What this actually looks like

The children's names have been changed to protect their privacy. Everything else is exactly as it happened.

A teenage boy Nanhe Khwab supported from class 7 through class 12, standing with Priya Sharma.
12 January 2019 · By Priya Sharma

How a lift encounter changed a kid's life

I still remember the day I met a boy in the lift of my building. He was on his way to deliver groceries to a flat.

“What's your name?” — “My name is Vinay, didi.”

A five-year-old boy who regained partial vision after surgery funded by donors.
10 December 2019 · By Priya Sharma

When Rohit got some of his vision back

Rohit is five. Before his operation he had almost no vision at all.

In their words

People who have seen this up close

I met Priya while sharing an Uber once, while she was on a call about NGO work, and I immediately told her I wanted to be part of it. Four years on I have been part of every initiative they take. It has been awesome to be part of her mission of changing generations.
Himanshu Chaturvedi Himanshu Chaturvedi Manager at RBS
It is because of her that I could help children in need without worrying about misuse of funds. These days it is genuinely hard to trust an NGO, but I know her and her work personally, so I have been contributing anonymously — I suppose not any more — especially at Christmas. She has practically adopted all of them.
Shiva Kumar Shiva Kumar Developer at Publicis Sapient
It gives me immense pleasure to see the children's smiling faces every time. The NGO does whatever is possible to educate the less fortunate children of our society. To whoever is reading this — no contribution is too small, it is the thought that counts.
Neenu Suresh Neenu Suresh Product Consultant at Pulse iD
I have seen many people dream of opening an NGO or working for a social cause, and often it stays a dream. Looking at these two I understand what persistence and will actually mean — and it is not for their own benefit. I can vouch for the magical feeling of seeing these children smile. These sisters have truly inspired me.
Christeena Victor Christeena Victor Chartered Accountant
We all hear that education is a great tool to change the world. Here is someone actually pursuing it with complete dedication and an honest heart. And often it is not just about teaching — it is about building a connection. The camaraderie Priya has with her students is quite heartwarming.
Pragya Sharma Pragya Sharma Founder, unpurl.com
Nanhe Khwab has given me a platform to do my bit in helping underprivileged children get a better education. It is an indescribable happiness to be able to contribute something to a child's bright future.
Purva Madaan Purva Madaan Senior Manager at EY
I have never seen someone whose heart yearns so much for young minds, and the children look forward to meeting Priya di more than they look forward to Santa Claus. She spent her weekends with them while people her age were at house parties. If I ever had to bet on a person to change the education system for underprivileged children, I would bet all my money on Priya.
Mahesh Jakhotia Mahesh Jakhotia Co-founder of Bijak

Our people

Founded in 2015 by two sisters with day jobs

Priya and Komal Sharma started Nanhe Khwab alongside their regular careers. Their friend Ameen heard what they were doing and joined them.

Priya Sharma, co-founder of Nanhe Khwab.

Priya Sharma

Co-founder · Software Engineer

A coder by profession, a social worker by passion. My journey began when I met a boy working at a grocery store in my neighbourhood. I started teaching him at home; ten years later he has finished class 12 and works at a good company, living a life of dignity. Since that moment my commitment to this has never wavered. In my free time I am usually off exploring somewhere — solo, with my partner, or with my dog.

Komal Sharma, co-founder of Nanhe Khwab.

Komal Sharma

Co-founder · Chartered Accountant

Inspired by my elder sister, I was drawn to building our own organisation to contribute to society. We work together on new ways to create opportunities for underprivileged children — she volunteers in Gurgaon, I do the same in Mumbai. When I am not working or volunteering you will find me in the mountains or at the gym.

Ameen Dhorajiwala, trustee of Nanhe Khwab.

Ameen Dhorajiwala

Trustee · Chartered Accountant

I have wide experience in accounting and audit. Beyond my professional interests I take an active part in social causes, and I have a real passion for educating the masses.

On the ground every day

Manju Devi, teacher at Pragati Centre.

Manju Devi

Teacher, manager & admin · Pragati Centre
Pratima Saini, teacher at Unnati Centre.

Pratima Saini

Teacher · Unnati Centre
Prashant Mishra, growth team.

Prashant Mishra

Growth team

Transparency

Who we are, on paper

You should not have to take our word for it. If anything here is not enough to satisfy you, ask us and we will send it.

Legal status Registered charitable trust under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950
Trust registration no. 10658
Tax benefit 80G available — certificate issued on request
Working since 2015
Where we work Delhi/NCR, Gurgaon, Pune and Mumbai
How we are staffed Volunteer-driven, with paid teachers at both schools Monday to Saturday

Annual accounts. Ask us and we will share our balance sheet.

Media

Where we have been mentioned

Humans of Hindustan feature about Nanhe Khwab.
12 June 2020 · Humans of Hindustan

One child at a time

On World Day Against Child Labour, the story of someone redefining the face of modern India — one child at a time.

Read the feature

Mention of Nanhe Khwab by Walker Chandiok & Co LLP.
Walker Chandiok & Co LLP

Recognised by Walker Chandiok & Co LLP

Latest

Nanhe Khwab updates

Powered by EmbedSocial→

Contact

Talk to us

Volunteering, sponsoring a child, an 80G certificate, or starting something like this where you live - all of it starts here.

Please tell us your name.
Please enter an email we can reply to.
Claiming 80G after paying by QR code? Include the date, time and amount so we can match it. Please write us a message.

We only use this to reply to you. See our privacy policy.