Board of Directors

Subha Rajbhandari

(Founder/ President )
Subha Rajbhandari, born in Kathmandu, Nepal and graduated from Tribhuvan University with a Masters of Sociology. Subha has worked her entire adult life to improve the lives and welfare of those in need. By profession and trade, she has worked as a Social Worker, in the service of foster children between the ages of 0-17, those who have been neglected and abused. While in her university studies, researched social issues ranging from that of “untouchables” in the Hindu Caste System, to the social ailments associated with the gender and the aged. A long involvement in community involvement, Subha has taken part in helping with hospice care in Kathmandu, contributions to the building of a temple in her community, financial assistance for those in need, to charitable contribution and volunteer work for various causes in both the USA and Nepal. Subha is a council member of the “Ganesh Man Singh Academy” representing the United States of America. As a member of the Academy, she helps to promote a world brotherhood and peace through the creation of democracy, justice, peace and an equitable society of equal opportunity for all.

Jonathan Smoak

(Secretary/Treasurer)
Jonathan Smoak is the son of charity workers in Colombia, South America. He has a BA in Social Science with an emphasis in Economic and Political Development. Jonathan worked among the poor in Latin America and Asia for more than 15 years developing university awareness programs which took North American College students to live and work among the poor. He also managed a hurricane relief program in Honduras in the aftermath of Hurricane “Mitch” in 1998. This program reconstructed destroyed villages and provided employment for villagers to participate in public works. Jonathan is also the founder of The Brevard Neighborhood Development Coalition in Melbourne, Florida.

Soni Joshi

Soni Joshi holds a Masters in Rural Development and Gender Studies (M. Sc. R.D. G. S). She has been involved in the social development field for more than a decade and is involved with a lot of organizations in different capacities that are working primarily for the benefit of the women and children of Nepal. She was also the First Nepali President of The Active Women of Nepal (AWON) which was formerly known as the American Women’s Association of Nepal. She has been involved with the United Nation’s Women’s Organization (UNWO) in different capacities for the past few years. She has served as the Chair of the Social Welfare Committee for 5 years. She is currently the President of the Center for Health, Education, Training and Advocacy (CHETANA). Which is concentrating on a variety of women focused programs & projects leading to their betterment with the inclusion of the male section of society too, gender sensitization, gender awareness, income generating trainings, awareness & advocacy related to health & education etc. She has experience in research work, fund raising, compering, proposal writing, organization and execution of novel projects and programs etc. She currently resides in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Jocelyn McCoy

Jocelyn McCoy is the Chief Financial office and a board member of A Coming of Age Foster Family Agency, a treatment agency providing therapeutic care services to foster children in California USA . She was born in the Philippines.and has been working with children in need for many years. Her passion and active involvement in meeting the needs of children and youth in foster care has made a great impression in the community .In addtion she is involved actively in fund raising and events for children in the foster care system. Jocelyn also has been involved in helping people in need in the Philippines.

Founding Board Member – Late Julius C. Dryer

Julius “Jack” Dyer was born in Louisiana and graduated from LSU. He worked as a consulting engineer and at a young age formed his own consulting engineering business which grew quickly into a large and respected entity. By his late 30s Jack was wealthy and successful but made a choice to change the course of his life. He left the business world and spent nearly 40 years using his resources to make a difference among the poor of Central America and India. He helped manage the Miskito Indian refugee camps in Honduras during the Sandinista conflict of the 1980s. He became the Country Director for Honduras of Friends of the Americas and built a hospital in the Mosquitia jungle on the border of Nicaragua and Honduras. Jack’s accomplishments among the poor of Honduras are legendary and the Miskito Nation knows him as “Papa Jack”. In his late 60s Jack moved to northern India to begin a new venture among Tibetan refugees. We will miss his inspirational guidance.

Founding Board Member – Late Nabindra Raj Joshi

Nabindra Raj Joshi, was born in Kathmandu, Nepal and graduated from Tribhuvan University with a Masters in Business Administration. Nabindra was a community leader from the days of his youth as the founder and President of ‘Association of Business Students’ at Tribhuvan University. He had also served as a Treasurer of the Social Services National Coordination Council in Nepal.

He was elected deputy mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City in the first election of local bodies after the restoration of democracy in 1990, thereby becoming the youngest member ever to serve as an office-bearer at the age of 27. He served as a Deputy Mayor for Kathmandu Metropolitan City for five years. He had been actively involved in various social activities and fundraising programs in Nepal. An advocate for the development of human equality and social welfare, Nabindra was the founding president of the “Ganesh Man Singh Academy”. This academy promotes the ideals cherished by Ganesh Man Singh promoting world brotherhood and peace through the creation of democracy, justice, peace and equitable society of equal opportunity for everyone. He is remembered for his contribution in working to preserve the cultural heritages of Kathmandu while trying to modernize the Capital city. Joshi also served as the spokesperson of the Nepali Congress from 2008 to 2013.

He served as industry minister from August 27, 2016, to September 11, 2017 During his tenure as the industry minister, he earned accolades for reviving Nepal Drug Limited that produces cheap and affordable medicines. When he was the industry minister, he organized the first-ever investment summit in Nepal and attracted foreign investment in Nepal.

Nabindra Raj Joshi dedicated his life in the service of his country Nepal and the people of Nepal with his humble, honest and hardworking nature. He was a man with high integrity and vision. Even during Covid times, he continued his mission of service to the needy in Nepal. He worked all his life tirelessly for the upliftment of his people.

Nabindra was one of the key inspirational persons who contributed to the birth of the Jyoti Foundation and in the continuation of its work for helping the elderly in Nepal. Jyoti Foundation is grateful to him for the guidance and encouragement he provided to Jyoti Foundation.

Nabindra Raj Joshi will forever remain in the heart and soul of the Jyoti Foundation forever and in the heart of the people of his Country Nepal. He will be missed.

Advisory Board

Dilip Chapagain

Dilip Chapagain has worked for over 12 years in support of grassroots-led social change with diverse philanthropic and non-profit organizations in Nepal and the USA. After earning a Master’s degree in Sociology from Tribhuwan University Nepal, Dilip worked for 7 years as the Development Coordinator and Process Documentation Officer with Plan International Nepal to change the future of poor and disadvantaged Nepali children, families and communities. He has also worked with KIRDARC (Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Center) as a Program Manager for two and half years, a social change organization serving isolated and underserved population in the Karnali region of Nepal. Most recently as a Project Manager with the Be A Mentor Inc. a Northern California based non-profit, Dilip contributed to empower at risk youth through mentoring interventions. With his spacious knowledge on the poverty, immigration, juvenile justice, human rights, gender, health, economy, education, employment and social security issues, Dilip brings the great vision to cultivate Jyoti Foundation’s initiatives to serve the needy senior citizens in Nepal.