Karuna-Shechen was founded in 2000 by Matthieu Ricard to help empower under-served communities in India, Nepal, and Tibet to reach their full potential and create a better future.
Each year, over 380,000 people benefit from our projects in northern India, Nepal, and eastern Tibet
Rooted in the ideal of “compassion in action,” we serve others with joy and determination by cultivating altruism in our hearts and actions.

We strive to reduce suffering in the Himalayan region and work toward a fairer and more compassionate world. We believe that communities can be lifted out of poverty, that change is possible, and that the well-being of every individual, regardless of race, gender, class, or caste, is essential.