Sometimes, all it takes is a simple thought to start an initiative. Nitin Jain was only 22 years old when he decided to celebrate Republic Day in 2019 with underprivileged kids living in the slums of Sonipat. That one meeting- filled with smiles, stories, and the harsh realities of their lives—stirred something deep within him. He realised these children deserved more than just a single day of joy; they needed opportunities, education, and hope. That’s when Nitin took the plunge to transform the lives of these children by teaching them. What began as a small effort to prepare a handful of children outside their slums has now transformed into a big movement, dedicated to changing lives in Sonipat.
In this heartfelt interview, Nitin Jain, the Founder of Spread Smile Foundation, shares his journey, the challenges he faced, and the incredible milestones his organisation has achieved.
What was the thought process behind establishing the Spread Smile Foundation?
I started the Spread Smile Foundation in Sonipat in January 2019. Back then, I just knew I wanted to do something impactful, though I had no idea what or how to start. During one of my visits to the local slum areas, I saw children begging, collecting garbage, and working as labourers.
On Republic Day in 2019, my cousin and I decided to spend time with these children. That day changed my perspective. I saw how they were living—one side of the area had posh houses, while the other had slums with around 50 families. I became deeply emotional and felt compelled to act. At that moment, I decided to start teaching these children.
That’s how Project ‘Vidhyaphal’, our flagship initiative, was born. We began with no formal structure—just me, my cousin, and a friend teaching children outside their slums for a few hours daily. Today, this project is at the heart of what we do, with the motive to ensure every child gets an equal opportunity of education.
For an NGO, it’s quite difficult to arrange funds. What challenges did you face while arranging funds in the initial days?
Indeed! Managing expenses was very challenging for SSF. Initially, we weren’t an NGO but just a group of passionate individuals who wanted to drive a change in the lives of underprivileged children. For approximately 1.5 months, from February to mid-March, we used to go every day in the evening to their slums and teach them. Then, we decided to get some of them admitted to private schools. We covered the costs— fees, books, clothes, and other monthly expenses—through contributions from friends and family. The first batch included 55 students, of which 45 were first-time schoolgoers, some as old as 14–15 years, particularly girls.
I would also like to add that since we are a voluntary NGO, none of our team members are paid. Everything runs on goodwill. Teachers come voluntarily to teach, and if someone has to leave, others step up to fill the gap. There have been times when we felt funds might dry up, but our work is not driven by financial motives. We do it for the greater good, and somehow, things always fall into place. God’s grace and the community’s support have kept us afloat.
What does SSF look like today?
Currently, we run Paathshalas (learning centres) in four different areas in Sonipat, educating around 400 children. Apart from teaching, we engage them in fun activities and games to develop holistic skills.
After approximately six years of SSF, it gives me immense pride to mention that we have built the careers of many children. Recently, a boy who wanted to pursue Science but couldn’t afford it received our support. In Class 12, we had one student who scored 95% and another who scored 93%. One student recently became the first in his family to pass Class 12. These moments show that small efforts can lead to big impacts.
Beyond education, we operate a free dispensary that provides medicines and lab tests for people of all ages. We have also set up a Silai (stitching) Centre to train women and make them financially independent and self-sufficient. In addition to these daily initiatives, we organise blood donation camps, health camps, tree plantation drives, menstrual hygiene awareness campaigns, and anti-begging campaigns.
We’ve also partnered with computer institutes to provide children with access to essential digital skills. SSF is the only NGO in Sonipat working at such a ground level in the education field. Our presence has also created local opportunities for internships. Earlier, students had to travel to Delhi for internships, but now they can gain experience right here in Sonipat.
What are your future goals and current requirements?
Our most significant need is volunteers. Even one hour a month can make a difference. To join SSF, people need to only contribute Rs. 100 as a membership fee.
Our primary goal isn’t just to connect people but to help them understand how our lives are different from others’ lives. We want to continue expanding our reach and touching more lives.
What motivates you to continue this work?
SSF’s success is because of its incredible team—volunteers, interns, directors, and board members. They are the backbone of this organisation.
Whenever I ask them to take the spotlight, they humbly say, “You be the face; we are with you.” Their kindness and dedication inspire me to keep moving forward, even when challenges arise.
I’m deeply grateful to my team, God, spiritual gurus, and society for supporting this mission. I’m confident SSF will grow day by day and reach even greater heights.
