Respect for the environment and community empowerment are at the heart of every project Karuna-Shechen implements. We strive to improve the livelihood options for vulnerable communities by providing them with the tools and knowledge they need to make sustainable use of local resources.
The solutions and methods we use are always based on our commitment to the importance of preserving our planet for future generations.
Kitchen Gardens to Reverse Soil Depletion
In India, with environmental concerns in mind and to prevent malnutrition, we offer an alternative to mono-cultures that lead to soil depletion, by planting hundreds of organic kitchen gardens in villages. Poor rural communities in Bihar and Jharkhand now have access to nutritious and organic food that is grown locally and with sustainability in mind.
We teach participants how to grow and rotate different crops to naturally restore the nutrients and vitamins in the soil. To ensure the sustainability of this project, we distribute free organic seeds and seedlings from our nurseries and encourage communities to start their own local organic nursery.
Preserving Water Resources
Similarly, our access to water programs provide our beneficiaries with a reliable source of clean water that does not contribute to groundwater depletion.
Karuna-Shechen installs systems that allow villagers to collect rain water from roof tops and store it in large underground tanks for community use, or smaller tanks for private domestic use. Most regions where these are installed are drought-prone. Thus, it is crucial for the well-being of future generations to install these methods and to teach them how to manage local water resources for the long-term.
Our systems help prevent groundwater depletion caused by deep wells that eventually cause the drying up of natural springs. In certain villages, with the help of the local community, we also dig rainwater retention dams to allow water to seep into the soil instead of evaporating quickly.
These projects prove that there are alternatives that can greatly improve the living conditions of current generations without sacrificing future generations’ livelihoods.
April 12 2021
Vocational training is central to our goal of empowering the poor in India. Started in 2014 with a few workshops, the initiative has quickly grown into a full-fledged program that is operating success...
March 26 2021
Among the numerous Hindu festivals, Holi stands out as the most vibrant. The festival of colours, as Holi is fondly called, is celebrated on March 28th this year. Though Holi in its truest form is all...
March 12 2021
In November 2020, Karuna launched a major call to action as part of our solidarity movement: Action For Karuna. More than 70 people got involved by organizing virtual or face-to-face events, and thank...
March 2 2021
“"Women are leaders at heart! They care, they nourish, they help. They give meaning and direction to life. We must support and integrate them whenever we can.” ~ Shalav Rana, director of operati...
February 16 2021
In 2016, members of Karuna-Shechen followed a seminar with Frédéric Laloux, author of Reinventing Organizations. Specialized in processes of People's Change, Frédéric accompanied the members of Ka...
