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.
May 28 2020
On this International Menstrual Hygiene Day, Karuna-Shechen reaffirms its commitment empowering women in India and Nepal so that they have access to a better life. The menstrual cycle - a natural but...
May 22 2020
PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY MEANS PRIORITIZING ALTRUISM OVER SELFISHNESS The diversity of living species on Earth is fascinating. We appreciate its beauty and, since the beginnings of science, have so...
May 12 2020
[Our experts have the floor] Interview with Shalav Rana, Karuna Shechen’s country director in Nepal. Shalav Rana is the country director of Karuna-Shechen in Nepal. He hasover 15 years of experi...
April 29 2020
20 years of rural exodus: between opportunity and illusion Over the past two decades, India has witnessed a massive exodus from rural areas. The last census in 2011 showed that the population was s...
April 28 2020
« Wonderment at the wilderness alone will not solve the ecological crisis, but it will, I hope, engender awareness and respect. » ~ Matthieu Ricard x We challenged you on Tuesday, April 21s...
