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) Christophe Grigri europe@karuna-shechen.org Karuna-Shechen Switzerland Jon Schmidt jon.schmidt@karuna-shechen.org To know more More
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October 28 2020
“Karuna-Shechen breaks taboos on what rural women can and cannot do, thus changing attitudes. As Dalai Lama often points out, we more than ever need empathy, altruism and compassion: that is why it ...
October 16 2020
« One only needs to become conscious of the truth for error, no matter how deeply rooted, to disappear, just as one only needs to light a lamp for darkness to disperse in a cave, even if it has been...
September 30 2020
In the continuity of Yoga for Karuna, Karuna-Shechen, an association founded by Matthieu Ricard, launches Action for Karuna, to support humanitarian projects in Nepal. From November 2 to 8, 2020, use ...
September 2 2020
« Altruism is not a luxury, but a necessity. It is also the most pragmatic way to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Altruism is indeed not only the noblest state of mind of the human being, bu...
August 31 2020
Karuna-Shechen is committed, since 2000, to provide access to quality education to the greatest number of people. We believe in a more altruistic world and education is a tool of choice to encourage t...
