Altruism in Action
In 2000 Matthieu Ricard founded Karuna-Shechen, an international nonprofit humanitarian organization providing healthcare, education, sustainable development, and cultural preservation throughout the Himalayan region. These activities help underserved communities in remote areas that have little or no other access to these vital services.
Karuna-Shechen has developed more than 200 humanitarian projects in India, Nepal, and Tibet. The programs are developed in response to the needs and aspirations of these communities, serving them with respect for their unique cultural heritage and paying special attention to educating and improving the status of girls and women.
Today Karuna-Shechen treats more than 150,000 patients annually through its clinics and outreach programs, educates over 20,000 children in schools it has helped to build, and benefits thousands through its social programs. It was very active in directly helping remote villagers rebuild their lives after the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal. In addition it has built homes for the elderly, equipped remote villages with solar power and rainwater collection systems, and built bridges and schools.
Its cultural preservation programs have helped to renew traditional crafts in Tibet through vocational training, rebuild retreat centers for contemplatives, and reproduce more than 400 volumes of ancient texts.
All of the author’s share of royalties from this and his other books and events go entirely to furthering the activities of Karuna-Shechen.
For further information and to support these programs please visit www.karuna-shechen.org or contact usa@karuna-shechen.org.
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