Karuna-Shechen was founded in 2000 by Matthieu Ricard to help empower under-served communities in India, Nepal, and Tibet to reach their full potential and create a better future.
Each year, over 270,000 people benefit from our projects in northern India, Nepal, and eastern Tibet
Rooted in the ideal of “compassion in action,” we serve others with joy and determination by cultivating altruism in our hearts and actions.
We strive to reduce suffering in the Himalayan region and work toward a fairer and more compassionate world. We believe that communities can be lifted out of poverty, that change is possible, and that the well-being of every individual, regardless of race, gender, class, or caste, is essential.
We provide vulnerable and disadvantaged populations access to health care, education and vocational training, clean water, solar electricity, and other sustainable solutions. Our programs are interconnected, working together to provide short-term support that fosters long-term change.
We believe that building on local strengths and knowledge is the most efficient way to respond to the specific needs and aspirations of our beneficiaries. Our comprehensive development strategy is based on active community participation, women’s empowerment, and the preservation of local resources and culture.
We implement our strategy by working with a network of grassroots organizations and partners, as well as local teams of experienced professionals.
Karuna-Shechen’s name expresses its mission while paying homage to its roots:
‘Karuna’ means compassion in Sanskrit
and ‘Shechen’ is the name of a major monastery in Tibet.
Over the years, we have established an effective collaborative team of local professionals, grassroots partners, and foreign volunteers who share our values. Together, we fund, initiate, and manage humanitarian and development projects in northern India, Nepal and More
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OUR MISSION Rooted in the ideal of “compassion in action,” we serve others with joy and determination by cultivating altruism in our hearts and actions. We strive to reduce suffering in the Himalayan region and work toward More
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Karuna-Shechen began its work in the mid-1980s when Matthieu Ricard (its founder) and Rabjam Rinpoche (co-founder) initiated a number of small programs to improve the living conditions of the Himalayan people. The programs were designed to address More
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FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING DONATIONS Please contact : donation@karuna-shechen.org JOBS & VOLUNTEERING To apply for jobs and volunteering, check positions HERE OUR INTERNATIONAL BRANCHES Karuna-Shechen Europe (France) 199 boulevard Voltaire 75011 Paris France Contact donation@karuna-shechen.org Karuna-Shechen Switzerland Route More
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May 6 2022
We believe that education is a tool for development, which should also help everyone to cultivate their inner qualities. Indeed, Early Childhood Development (ECD) is a major axis of intervention for K...
April 28 2022
This year, all the donations collected by Action For Karuna finance our food security program in India which supports more than 53,000 families: organic vegetable gardens, fruit trees, drip irrigati...
April 19 2022
"When altruists join forces, they can generate a tremendous power for good. (...) Everyone can mobilize in his or her own way and cultivate an altruistic state of mind to become a link in the immense ...
March 31 2022
Since June 2021, Karuna-Shechen has been supporting Calcutta Rescue in its intervention in the slums of Nonadanga and Canal West, in Calcutta, India. This sister association was created by Dr. Jack P...
March 14 2022
"In this current era, we face many challenges. One of our main problems is to reconcile the demands of the economy, the pursuit of happiness and respect for the environment. These imperatives corresp...
