Karuna-Shechen begins a new chapter in its commitment to India with the creation of its national headquarters in Kolkata, in the state of West Bengal .
From Bodhgaya, in Bihar, where it all began 24 years ago, to the expansion of our activities in Jharkhand in 2014 and in Darjeeling in 2023, Karuna has continued to grow, driven by the opportunities to fulfill its mission to serve the most disadvantaged.
Kolkata : a strategic location
Karuna-Shechen, committed to geographic and programmatic expansion in India, quickly identified the need to rethink its country headquarters to ensure efficient operations in all three regions of intervention.
Our head office was historically located in Bodhgaya, where the first activities were launched in 2000.
This location has become so far from our new intervention areas that it has limited our efficiency.
Kolkata, a metropolitan city, was chosen to host the headquarters because of its geographical position.
This regional capital is well connected with India’s other major cities and with the rest of the world.
Its central location and extensive transport network guarantee optimal links with our three regional offices in Bodhgaya, Jamshedpur and Darjeeling. The people in charge of program supervision can easily visit and monitor the activities of each team more closely.
Recruiting professionals, especially for management positions in the rural area, was difficult. Thanks to the presence of renowned universities, we are now able to recruit attractive profiles with more experience.
Encouraging long-term collaboration
Karuna has undertaken to build up an experienced management team by the end of 2022, aligned with our intervention strategy aimed at building teams made up entirely of local people.
The staff in the Kolkata office consists of the Country Director, the Finance Director, the Program Director, the SERA (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) Manager, the Human Resources Manager and the Communications Manager.
Together, they ensure cohesion between the various activities and orchestrate global strategies.
The Kolkata team collaborates with the teams operating in the Bodhgaya, Jamshedpur and Darjeeling regional offices, who are responsible for the implementation of the programs. Working directly with local communities, they monitor projects, train beneficiaries and evaluate the impact of our programs.
I joined Karuna-Shechen’s Kolkata branch in March this year. My experience working in the Karuna-Shechen Kolkata office has been incredibly enriching. Interacting with individuals who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the table has opened doors to invaluable learning experiences.
Neelanjana Bhattacharjee, Coordinator for Partnerships & Trainings
Today, we have over 200 employees, supported by 119 social motivators, working together in a spirit of solidarity.
Every teams collaborate with other offices over regular calls and meetings through shared virtual workspaces and conferencing ideas. Even the sharing between each of the team members in the office space allows an immense amount of cross learning and capacity building.
Rena Sanyal, Head of Human Resources
Everyone is encouraged to cultivate an altruistic state of mind. The issues of personal fulfillment and well-being are anchored in our organizational model.
A concrete example of this dynamic is the development of emotional and collective intelligence, which lies at the heart of Karuna’s work culture.
In March 2023, Executive Director Quentin Durand led the first workshops in India from our head office in Kolkata.
Teams were introduced to the perception, expression and understanding of their emotions.
At Karuna, we try to adopt an innovative model, to break hierarchical, or pyramidal codes and to value collective intelligence to cooperate together with enthusiasm and determination
Quentin Durand, Executive Director
A Central Office for Sustainable Expansion
L’installation du siège national de Karuna en Inde à Kolkata marque une étape cruciale dans le développement de l’organisation et des équipes. Après six mois d’activité, le bureau de Kolkata travaille déjà à plein régime.
It encourages teams to work well together and creates opportunities for exchange and sharing. In December 2023 and January 2024, for example, teams from our three regional offices had the opportunity to visit their colleagues and discover the different initiatives they have put into place.
The new headquarters also facilitates the organization of potential workshops and seminars, such as World Mental Health Day in Jharkhand. The focus this day was on the well-being of employees and communities. Doctors gave presentations and held in-depth discussions to raise awareness on the importance of these issues.
The ultimate aim of the Kolkata head office therefore goes beyond operational efficiency Its primary purpose is to contribute to a more altruistic world by supporting our employees, and improving our ability to serve those most in need.
The establishment of our Coordination office in Kolkata is more than just a physical presence; it is a hub for collaboration, capacity building, and exploring domestic fundraising opportunities.
Shamsul Akhtar, Country Director India
