Making Sustainable Use of Local Resources

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.