In 2000, inspired by the universal values of Buddhism, Matthieu Ricard founded Karuna-Shechen. The organization supports marginalized communities across the Himalayan region — in India, Nepal, and Tibet — regardless of religion or belief, so they can take action, make decisions, and shape their own future.
Our Mission
Karuna-Shechen responds to the fundamental needs of vulnerable populations by ensuring access to healthcare, food, water, and education. We foster autonomy through economic development, women’s empowerment, and climate resilience, while strengthening social cohesion and local decision-making, helping communities build a more supportive and sustainable future.
26 years of altruism in action
This drive for compassion was carried forward by Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, abbot of Shechen Monastery, who encouraged Matthieu Ricard to turn this inspiration into concrete action.
In 2000, Karuna-Shechen was founded as a secular organization. Building on this legacy and driven by a deeply humanistic vision, it works with marginalized communities, regardless of religious, cultural, or social background.
To this day, the values of compassion, cooperation, and kindness continue to guide our actions. They bring together donors, volunteers, teams, and communities around a shared commitment: putting altruism into action.
Matthieu Ricard, founder
Matthieu Ricard founded Karuna-Shechen with the aspiration of putting “compassion into action” in service to the most vulnerable populations of the Himalayan regions.
Born in 1946, he began his professional life in science and earned a PhD in cellular genetics from the Institut Pasteur. At the age of 26, he chose to settle in the Himalayas, where he committed himself to the monastic path and became a Buddhist monk.
Over the years, he has cultivated a life at the crossroads of several commitments: spiritual practice, photography, writing, and teaching. As the French interpreter for the Dalai Lama, he also maintains an ongoing dialogue with the scientific community, notably through neuroscience research on the effects of mental training, conducted with several international universities.
In continuity with this commitment, he donates all royalties from his books and income generated through his activities to Karuna-Shechen, thereby supporting projects carried out in India, Nepal, and Tibet.
To learn more: matthieuricard.org
Our values
At Karuna-Shechen, everyone is invited to pay particular attention to cultivating an altruistic state of mind.
The team
active members
volunteers
women
men
nationalities represented
The organization
The Karuna-Shechen network is composed of legally autonomous and independent entities operating under the Karuna-Shechen name. These entities form a coherent group of organizations sharing a common mission, values, and guiding principles, aimed at alleviating the suffering of vulnerable populations and promoting a more altruistic world. These sister entities are located in France, Switzerland, the United States, Hong Kong, Germany, India, and Nepal.
Financial transparency
At Karuna-Shechen, our work is based on effective altruism through a rational design of our activities, rigorous measurement and evaluation of our impact, and efficient use of our resources. We are committed to being transparent, demonstrating integrity, and fighting against corruption.
Karuna-Shechen’s total expenditure in 2025 amounted to US$4.2M, with 81.2% allocated to our missions and advocacy programs. To support our missions, communication and fundraising costs accounted for 12.5%. Finally, administrative expenses represented 6.3% of total expenses.
Friends
They support us
