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 OUR TEAM IN THE FIELD Please do not write to the field directly to apply for jobs or volunteering, check positions HERE Nepal nepal@karuna-shechen.org India india@karuna-shechen.org OUR INTERNATIONAL BRANCHES More
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April 1 2020
As with our programs in India, we are announcing the temporary cessation of our programs in Nepal in order to comply with the measures taken by the Nepalese government. As Nepal has also observed...
March 25 2020
In these difficult times, our thoughts go out to the people who are ill, to their families, and to all of those risking their own health for the health of others around the world every day. India -...
March 20 2020
Today we celebrate together the International Day of Happiness. In these difficult and exceptional times, our thoughts go especially to the people who are suffering and to the medical personnel who ar...
February 29 2020
Over the past twenty years, Karuna-Shechen’s pursuit of equality for women has brought forth many efforts to remove barriers and open doors of opportunity. Through our projects in India and Nepal, w...
February 29 2020
Educating women and girls is one of the most effective ways to transform lives, improve the well-being of communities, and invest in the future. It raises wages and breaks the cycle of poverty for wom...
