Our Story
How a group of passionate individuals in Prayagraj set out to prove that education can transform not just lives, but entire communities.
Where It All Began
Founded in 2023 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, Jana Vidya Foundation is a registered education NGO working to make quality education accessible to every underprivileged child. In the narrow lanes of Prayagraj, where ancient temples stand beside overcrowded schools and children play on unpaved roads, a question took root: What if every child here had the same shot at learning as those in the best schools?
Jana Vidya Foundation was born from that question. Founded by a small group of educators, volunteers, and dreamers, JVF started with a single room, a handful of donated books, and an unshakable belief that education is the most powerful engine of social change. Our tagline — Impact through Education — captures this conviction.
We did not wait for perfect conditions. We started teaching. We opened free libraries in villages across Prayagraj and surrounding districts where books had never been seen. We set up a library inside a prison, because the right to learn does not end at a gate. Within months, word spread — parents walked their children to our learning centers, volunteers arrived from across the city, and the community began to believe.
Today, Jana Vidya Foundation has reached over 500 students, established 5 free libraries in villages and prisons, trained 100+ volunteers, organized 10+ medical camps, and awarded 50+ scholarships to students from low-income families. We operate multiple learning centers and have expanded into community health and digital literacy workshops. But our mission remains the same: Impact through Education.
Vision & Mission
Our Vision
A world where every child, regardless of where they are born, has access to quality education and the opportunity to reach their full potential. We envision communities that are self-sustaining, empowered, and driven by knowledge.
Our Mission
To create lasting impact through education by running learning centers, setting up free libraries, awarding scholarships, organizing medical camps, and conducting community workshops — all aimed at empowering underserved communities in Prayagraj and beyond.
Our Core Values
The principles that guide every decision we make and every program we run.
Equity
Every child deserves access to quality education regardless of their socio-economic background. We work to level the playing field.
Community
Lasting change happens when communities come together. We build bridges between volunteers, families, and institutions.
Empowerment
Education is not charity — it is empowerment. We equip individuals with knowledge and skills to shape their own futures.
Sustainability
We design programs that communities can sustain on their own, creating self-reinforcing cycles of learning and growth.
The People Behind JVF
A dedicated team of individuals united by the belief that education changes everything.
Rajiv Sharma
Founder & Executive Director
A lifelong educator from Prayagraj who founded Jana Vidya Foundation in 2023 after years of teaching in under-resourced schools. Rajiv leads strategy, partnerships, and drives JVF's vision of Impact through Education.
Meena Tripathi
Director of Programs & Learning Centers
Meena oversees JVF's learning centers, library network, and scholarship program. With a background in community education, she ensures every initiative is designed around the needs of students and families in Prayagraj.
Ankit Verma
Volunteer & Community Outreach Coordinator
Ankit recruits, trains, and supports JVF's growing network of volunteers across Prayagraj, Naini, and Phaphamau. He builds the community trust that makes JVF's on-the-ground work possible.
Our Journey
Key milestones in our mission to bring education to those who need it most.
Founded
Jana Vidya Foundation was established in Prayagraj with a mission to make quality education accessible to every child.
First Learning Center
Opened our first learning center, welcoming 50 students from underserved neighborhoods for free quality education.
5 Libraries Established
Set up five free libraries across villages and a prison, distributing over 2,000 books to communities starved of reading material.
500 Students Reached
Crossed the milestone of 500 students actively learning through our centers, scholarships, and workshop programs.
Medical Camps Launched
Expanded our mission to include health — organizing free medical camps because a healthy child is a learning child.