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) 20 bis, rue Louis Philippe 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine France Contact Siva Selvaradj More
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October 19 2021
In January 2021, Karuna initiated its very first project in France in collaboration with the association Mindfulness Solidaire. Resilience is a program targeting caregivers, which aims to provide them...
July 27 2021
For more than twenty years now, the notion of altruism, defined as selfless concern for the good of others, unites and inspires Karuna-Shechen’s benefactors, beneficiaries, volunteers and teams. It ...
July 26 2021
Hinduism has many festivals and rituals. They celebrate the major stages of life as well as the deities and are an opportunity to spend time with loved ones. Among these celebrations, one, particularl...
July 6 2021
While the Ruby Valley is a region of scenic beauty, it owes much of its charm to the cohabitation of humans with other species and their environment. The valley is populated by more animals than peopl...
June 29 2021
Dominated by the Himalayan reliefs, the Ruby valley offers landscapes of a rare beauty. Named after the precious stone, as deposits are said to be found there, it is a mountainous region in central Ne...
