photo exhibitions

Dear friends

It is with great enthusiasm and gratitude that I share with you our accomplishments from 2021 to help act and advocate for a better, more altruistic world.

The year 2021 was a year of challenge, resilience, and hope, in which we supported more than 446,000 people. Challenges first, because the Covid-19 pandemic is still with us all and everywhere. Resilience, because despite all the hardships, our teams on the ground have been able to adapt and restart the majority of our activities. Hope, finally, because 2021 has allowed Karuna the opportunity to initiate new activities, both in Asia and in France, and take the time to review our intervention strategy. We could then integrate our values of altruism in action, and thus improve the impact and effectiveness of our programs. In winter, as the Covid emergency entered its third phase, we resumed most of our programs and adapted our projects, allowing many people to start 2021 with a fresh start. In the spring, the fourth edition of the “Action for Karuna” movement brought together hundreds of people and project leaders from all walks of life to develop initiatives such as sports, meditation, yoga and student projects to support our early childhood development program in Nepal. In the summer, the Nepalese teams were able to initiate activities in a new region for intervention: the Ruby Valley. With four staff members on site, this area now has a health post, nursery and school, providing better access to health care, food safety and education. In the fall, we organized a series of conferences, meetings and exhibitions in order to share more widely the cardinal value that inhabits all members of Karuna: altruism. We remain convinced that this quality can be inspired, cultivated and put into action. It is one of the most concrete solutions to our current and future challenges. Driven by the inspiring achievements of the past year, the determination and enthusiasm of our teams to continue their work is stronger than ever. The year 2022 starts with the election of the new President, Erick Rinner, who will work hand in hand with our Executive Director, Quentin Durand, on a vision for the next three years. I am very confident in the future of our collective work. This adventure is made possible by the commitment of each and every one of you, partners, benefactors, volunteers and employees. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to you. Thank you for being part of the Karuna-Shechen family. With my warmest thoughts,

Co-founder and Honorary President

01

THe associaTionKaruna-Shechen

Co-founded by Matthieu Ricard and Rabjam Rinpoche, Karuna-Shechen has been acting and advocating for a more altruistic world for over twenty years.

OuR MiSSiOnS

to act Karuna-Shechen works to break the cycle of extreme poverty and reveal the full potential of the poorest men, women and children in India, Nepal and Tibet. We help these people to be empowered and to strengthen their resilience, making them actors of their own development.

to advocate Karuna-Shechen invites everyone to develop his or her altruistic potential, in order to move together towards a more just world. We offer events and content to inspire, train and engage.

OuR viSiOn

Altruism is not a luxury but a necessity. It is one of the most concrete solutions to the challenges of the 21st century. Altruism is indeed not only the noblest state of mind of human beings, but the only concept that reconciles the demands of the short, medium and long term, to move towards an economy of solidarity, the wellbeing of citizens and a much greater consideration for the fate of future generations, the environment and the eight million species with which we share the biosphere.

Matthieu RicaRd

WORk culTuRe

be the team Taking part in something bigger than yourself with dedication invite joy Seeking and recognizing joy in all and oneself

listen with care Engaging in dialogue by listening attentively be caring Caring for others without neglecting your own needs stay effective Balancing efficiency, collective goals and caring for all those involved embrace the unknown Welcoming new ideas with a beginner’s mind express gratitude Remaining attentive to small details that might be overlooked share with wise speech Daring to open up to others, with honesty, integrity and humility

PlAn 2025, A HARMOnized viSiOn

An inTeRnATiOnAl And cOMMiTTed TeAM

Karuna-shechen has come a long way since its beginnings and continues to transform to reach its goals.

At Karuna-shechen, everyone is invited to nurture the values we espouse, with a particular focus on cultivating altruism.

Since 2018, Karuna has become highly professionalized while preserving its family spirit. A family of compassion in action in the service of the most fragile, always with this openness of heart very dear to our founder, Matthieu Ricard.

eRick RinneR, President of Karuna-shechen An organization initially run by a group of friends and a few patrons, the organization has grown organically. Since 2018, it has become more professional and continues its transformation towards greater reliability, efficiency and solidarity, thanks to an international team committed with heart.

In 2021, all organizational members collaborated to create a strategic vision for Karuna-Shechen that will guide the next few years. Particular attention was paid to the connection between our advocacy for a more altruistic world and our field activities. This «Plan 2025» addresses the identity of the association, its missions, its values, its internal culture, its governance, its objectives and the means to achieve them.

Our organization is based on self-governance, ego erasure, connectedness and self-criticism, which are infused into our work tools and processes. Our work culture is built around three forms of intelligence: collective, to bring out the best in the group; emotional, to welcome and share our emotions and feelings; and organizational, to unite around a common project, beyond individualities. Numerous work tools contribute to cultivating these aspects: collective meditations, active listening, inner emotional weather, expression of gratitude, tension resolution, teambuilding moments...

1 head office in Paris

8 employees, 5 interns and apprentices

6 international branches

France, hong Kong, India, nepal, switzerland, united states

204 members

worldwide including 65 volunteers

7 operation centers

154 local employees in India and nepal