This WhatsApp group has a JOSH for change

Joy of Serving Humanity (JOSH), a WhatsApp group started by Pune’s Smita Chelamchela, is an initiative to use technology to touch the lives of others. The group, which started with 5 members, has now grown to 45, with people from different backgrounds coming together for a common cause. 

JOSH members contribute Rs 500 per month which is used for various social projects. "After I came back to India from USA, I started a group that included mothers of my kids’ schoolmates. We conducted various social programs in Mumbai. I moved to Pune a year back and started the same concept which is now growing on a larger scale. The money that we collect each month is put to use in helping individuals, NGOs, orphanages and old age homes," said Chelamchela. 

Apart from Pune, JOSH consists of members from other cities in India and a few NRIs residing in different countries. "The ground work is done in Pune as a majority of our participants are here. We do a background check of those interested in joining the group before adding them," she says. 

JOSH is currently working on three major projects - an initiative for farmers in drought-struck areas of Maharashtra, an initiative to support a learning centre for the underprivileged and helping various NGOS across the city. 

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