Founded by Matthieu Ricard, Karuna-Shechen is a charitable non-profit organization rooted in the ideals of altruism and compassion in action.
Each year, over 380,000 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.
Our total expenditure in 2016 for our programs in India and Nepal was 2.1 million USD. Administrative and operational costs for work in Nepal and India represent 9% of our global budget. The following charts do not More
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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 We strive to reduce inequalities in the himalayan regions and work toward a fairer and more compassionate world. We trust that communities can be lifted out of poverty, that change is possible, and that the 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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December 19 2019
"The work of Karuna-Shechen is what is the dearest to my heart, and I wish to express my deepest gratitude to those who have so generously made this beautiful work possible." ~ Matthieu Ricard s ...
December 5 2019
Twenty years ago, Matthieu Ricard set out to build a better world for the people of the Himalayan region through the founding of Karuna-Shechen. Working in remote and underserved villages, made poss...
December 5 2019
20 years ago, Matthieu Ricard decided to use his share of the proceeds from his best-selling book The Monk and the Philosopher to undertake humanitarian projects in the Himalayan region. Inspired ...
December 4 2019
“At Karuna-Shechen, we believe that compassion not only helps us to benefit others, but it is also the most satisfying way to live.” ~Matthieu Ricard . Since Karuna-Shechen began in 2000, we ...
November 28 2019
For #GivingTuesday, Matthieu Ricard and Karuna-Shechen invites you to cultivate altruism and give back, so to create change across the globe. As we head into our 20th year, Karuna-Shechen is pos...
