On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we reaffirm a deep conviction: women play a central role in the life of rural communities in India and Nepal. They nourish, they support, they connect. Through their daily commitment, the entire social fabric is strengthened and transformed.
A community is not limited to a territory or a name on a map.
It is a network of living relationships, where responsibilities, knowledge, and care circulate. Within these dynamics, Karuna recognizes that women play an essential role.
When a woman shares her skills, encourages another to learn, cares for children, or looks after her family’s health, she transforms her environment.
At Karuna, supporting women means supporting change driven from within communities. We believe that lasting progress is built on existing strengths—by strengthening women’s roles, rather than imposing solutions from the outside.
Supporting women is not only about accompanying individual journeys.
It means empowering an entire collective and multiplying impact across communities.
$30
A woman enrolls in a literacy program
$60
2 women receive support throughout their pregnancy and motherhood
$120
A woman receives funding to start her own business
When women’s commitment moves communities forward
Whether it is learning to read and write, ensuring access to hygiene, developing a business activity, managing a microcredit loan, or strengthening agricultural skills, each initiative strengthens the social fabric, opens new perspectives, and inspires other women to take action. These women are not only beneficiaries of change—they are its everyday architects.
Parina
Building a Business, Empowering Others
Despite geographic isolation and family responsibilities, Parina turned her passion for soap-making into a source of independence for her family. Discover the journey of a woman who moved from financial insecurity to becoming a trainer for her entire community.
Goma
Living Her Period with Confidence
In Dhading, menstruation once meant withdrawing from public life: girls missed school and women stayed away from the market. Be inspired by Goma, who turned a health taboo into shared knowledge that now allows her to remain active every day of the month.
Mecho
Growing together
Bindu
Daring to Learn
For Bindu, school felt like a distant memory. Follow her journey—from the anxiety of her first classes to the confidence she has regained, now able to support her children and take part fully in village life.