US teen was rejected from nursing home at 14; she later built a 500-student senior care movement

Jiya Joshi lost her beloved grandmother at 14 and decided to volunteer at a nursing home. But getting rejected from there inspired her to begin a movement uniting generations through friendship, compassion and caring.A love lost too soonJiya was only two when her grandparents arrived from India to Texas, to help care for her while her parents were at work. Her grandmother, Saroj, drove her to school and cooked her the most delicious snacks. Her entire day was wrapped around them and the two formed a close bond, sharing long conversations about life, school and friends.When she was in third grade, her grandparents returned to India, but distance only made the heart grow fonder, and they spoke on the phone regularly once a week.The year she turned 14, Jiya lost her grandmother, whom she called 'Dadi' and the loss left an aching void inside her, often leaving her feeling lonely. While she had her parents and friends to talk to, it wasn't the same. They didn't carry the same wisdom and gentle kindness as her grandmother did.Filling the voidWithin two years of service, Jiya has helped 4,000 seniors, built a network of more than 70 youth volunteers and spread the initiative in more than ...