⚠️ Read this before you do anything else. No exceptions.
Saayam For All is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit building an "Uber for Help" platform — a web and mobile app that connects people in need with volunteers and organizations who can help with food, shelter, healthcare, education, and more.
- Test App (latest features): test-saayam.netlify.app
- Production App: saayam.netlify.app
- GitHub: github.com/saayam-for-all
💡 First thing you should do: Go to test-saayam.netlify.app, create an account, submit a test help request, and explore the categories. Understand the product before you touch any code.
The Data group at Saayam consists of two sub-teams that share one WhatsApp group and one GitHub repo (data):
| Sub-Team | Focus | Leads |
|---|---|---|
| Data Engineering | Data pipelines, scraping, Lambda functions, data processing | Saquib Baig · Sana Desai |
| Data Analytics | Dashboards, analytics, insights, reporting | Prachi Deshpande · Vighnesh Sridhar |
| Project Management | Task planning, coordination, timelines | Janhavi Chavan · Ruthwik Dhaipulle |
| When | Every Tuesday — 1:00 PM PST |
| Who | Both Data Engineering and Data Analytics |
| Where | Zoom link (https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77345571053?pwd=0EfORCsIzoxdeP3Pio3Cvo6q8p5k9T.1) |
This is the most important meeting. This is where you give updates, ask questions, get unblocked, and sync with the team. Save your questions for this meeting — mid-week, people get busy and responses take time.
If you miss 4 team meetings in a row, you will be removed from the group.
| When | Every weekday at 10:00 AM PST |
| Who | All Saayam tech volunteers |
| Led by | Rao Bhethanabotla |
| Where | Zoom link (https://us05web.zoom.us/j/84510208580?pwd=Fay4wfByjXNiDyBbKyEaL5JYrPXyKI.1#success) |
This is an org-wide standup. Useful for getting context on what other teams are doing and for getting help from Rao directly. Mandatory if you have an offer letter. If you cannot attend, send your status to the WhatsApp group.
One shared WhatsApp group for both Data Engineering and Data Analytics. This is the primary communication channel. Introduce yourself when you join: name, qualifications, school, location, interests.
Communication etiquette: Our volunteers are across time zones and countries. Never call someone directly without checking availability via WhatsApp first.
Escalation chain: Team WhatsApp group → Software WhatsApp group (if no response in 24 hrs) → Rao Bhethanabotla (408-390-1725).
We build the data pipeline that powers Saayam's intelligent features — scraping, cleaning, aggregating, and serving data so the AI team and frontend can use it.
For current tasks and roadmap, see TASK_TRACKER.md.
For how to work in this codebase (setup, repo structure, code standards, where to put files), see CONTRIBUTING.md.
For deep technical context, architecture, and leadership handoff info, see KNOWLEDGE_TRANSFER.md.
- Fill out the Access Hub Form to get added to GitHub and WhatsApp.
- Make sure your GitHub profile has your real name and profile picture — required for task assignments.
- The Repository name of Data Engineering/Analytics group is "Data"
Follow the setup instructions in CONTRIBUTING.md.
Go to test-saayam.netlify.app. Submit a help request. Understand the categories.
There is a beginner task you must complete before being assigned real work. Check the issues tab for the issue labeled good first issue or ask in the team WhatsApp group for the current beginner task.
Show up, introduce yourself, and you'll be guided from there.
Here are the rules:
- If you are assigned a task and have no updates, no heads up, and no valid reason — you will be removed from the task.
- If you miss 4 weekly team meetings in a row — you will be removed from the group.
- If life gets in the way, just tell us. Communication is everything. Nobody will be upset if you need time off — what causes problems is silence.
Log your hours weekly in the Google Sheet shared in the WhatsApp Organization group every Monday:
- Your name, hours worked, team name, GitHub issue URL, brief task description.
- The group name under Timesheet for Data Engineering/Analytics is "Predictive ML"
- Deadline: Tuesday EOD. Window closes Wednesday 12:00 AM EST. No late submissions.
Most tasks are assigned to 2+ people. Coordinate with your pair. If you need to step away, tell your pair and your team lead.
| Role | Who | Reach Via |
|---|---|---|
| Data Engineering Leads | Saquib Baig · Sana Desai | Team WhatsApp group |
| Data Analytics Leads | Prachi Deshpande · Vighnesh Sridhar | Team WhatsApp group |
| Project Managers | Janhavi Chavan · Ruthwik Dhaipulle | Team WhatsApp group |
| Org Lead / Scrum | Rao Bhethanabotla | (408) 390-1725 — escalation only |
| Offer Letters | Sri Tejaswi Vadapalli / Sharanya Gowda | |
| Access Issues | Access Hub Form | Google Form |
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Test App | test-saayam.netlify.app |
| Production App | saayam.netlify.app |
| Data Repo Issues | github.com/saayam-for-all/data/issues |
| Onboarding Wiki | New Volunteer Onboarding |
| Access Hub Form | Google Form |
| Architecture Wiki | Architecture |
| Saayam YouTube | youtube.com/@SaayamForAll1 |
Last updated: February 2026