Twenty years ago, Matthieu Ricard set out to build a better world for the people of the Himalayan region through the founding of Karuna-Shechen. Working in remote and underserved villages, made possible through a web of interdependence and goodwill, our humanitarian projects have put compassion into action every day of the past two decades to save and significantly improve the lives of people in need.
Through our sustainable model and generous donors, we have grown our reach and impact each year. Today, we provide access to basic healthcare, education and training services, as well as access to clean water, solar electricity and other sustainable solutions to more than 380,000 people annually in Nepal and Northern India.
Increasing Challenges. While our reach and impact have increased over the years, so too have the challenges and complexities of the world in which we live. As we work hand-in-hand with those we serve, we must also rise to meet the new, urgent needs to mitigate the effects of climate change, the growing need for cultural preservation and traditional knowledge, and the persistent need for women’s equality.
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Rising to Meet the Needs. Karuna-Shechen’s areas of intervention remain, as they have always been: health care, education, community development, women’s empowerment, and emergency response. Within these areas, we are embracing opportunities to respond to evolving needs and overcome challenges, ensuring that our efforts continue to make a sustainable, lasting difference and work towards building a better world.
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Work with communities to develop sustainable solutions. By using the experience and knowledge we have from our years of service, we can address specific needs while working together with our benefactors to develop skills and resources that build their resilience and self-sufficiency. Our aim is to work in partnership with those we serve to create solutions that can be sustained by the villagers themselves, independent of external help.
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Create opportunities for women to improve their lives. Perhaps more than ever, it is time for women to take their place as equal members of society. Within our programs, we focus on creating opportunities for women to strengthen their health, gain independence, learn new skills, and build confidence in their abilities. By empowering women to reach their potential, our programs reduce poverty and inequality, and create a more altruistic world.
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Respect the environment and preserve natural resources. The people we work with — women, children, and families living in remote and underserved areas — are some of the hardest hit by environmental destruction. In our work, we not only provide aid and assistance in recovering from emergencies and environmental devastation, but we also work within the communities to train villagers with techniques to strengthen their resilience for the future.
As we move forward into our next decade of service, we renew our commitment to our vision: integrity, compassion, and action. Guided by these objectives, we will continue our journey to ensure the sustainability of our essential projects while rising to meet new challenges. We will pursue opportunities to strengthen our service to others and embrace each step we take towards building a better world. We will — with your partnership and support — continue to dare to cultivate altruism to benefit us all and the planet.
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October 28 2020
“Karuna-Shechen breaks taboos on what rural women can and cannot do, thus changing attitudes. As Dalai Lama often points out, we more than ever need empathy, altruism and compassion: that is why it ...
October 16 2020
« One only needs to become conscious of the truth for error, no matter how deeply rooted, to disappear, just as one only needs to light a lamp for darkness to disperse in a cave, even if it has been...
September 30 2020
In the continuity of Yoga for Karuna, Karuna-Shechen, an association founded by Matthieu Ricard, launches Action for Karuna, to support humanitarian projects in Nepal. From November 2 to 8, 2020, use ...
September 2 2020
« Altruism is not a luxury, but a necessity. It is also the most pragmatic way to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Altruism is indeed not only the noblest state of mind of the human being, bu...
August 31 2020
Karuna-Shechen is committed, since 2000, to provide access to quality education to the greatest number of people. We believe in a more altruistic world and education is a tool of choice to encourage t...
