Our Work

When an individual’s life changes, they can change their community. When a community changes, they can change society

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Overcoming poverty and discrimination in South Asia

Over 200 million people in South Asia still live under the poverty line.

Hell of Caste
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At Karuna, we believe that every person has the right to live a life free of discrimination and poverty.

Caught in a daily struggle to simply survive, they are typically excluded by wider society from the resources, education and livelihoods they need to thrive. Without support, a different future for themselves and their families remains out of reach. 

Children and women are particularly at risk. More than half of vulnerable children drop out before finishing primary school, while women suffer magnified discrimination due to their gender, with many being taken out of school early, often forced into marriage and household service at the cost of their independence. Further, these same communities are more likely to live on the front lines of climate change, a rapidly increasing threat to survival that no community can face alone. 

At Karuna, we believe that every person has the right to live a life free of discrimination and poverty. We work alongside the world’s most vulnerable people to overcome poverty and discrimination with locally-led projects in gender equality, education, livelihoods and climate resilience. 

By forming partnerships with affected communities, we ensure sustainability and self-reliance; by bringing organisations together, we form networks who spread their benefit further than they ever could have alone. 

Working together in this way, we are committed to eliminating inequality, ensuring access to decent and humane work, providing education for all and mitigating the impact of climate change – with no one left behind. 

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35

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We are supporting 35 projects across South Asia

£2,269,110

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Last year we gave £2,269,110 in grants

130,000

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Last year 130,000 were supported by our projects

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How we create change

Theory of Change

1.

By creating access to the tools, support and skills people need to overcome poverty and discrimination themselves, they can become champions of their communities and support others. 

2.

By working with grassroots organisations from within the affected communities, our project focuses remain locally-led, ensuring self-reliance and sustainability.

3.

  1. By bringing these organisations together, we form networks which can spread their benefit to more individuals, restarting the cycle of transformation for others. 

 

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Stories from the field

Anita Naskar

WOMENS LEADERSHIP IN WEST BENGAL

Sandeep

Sandeep becomes Deputy Chief Minister at his hostel

Mahesh

The dentist that defied the odds

Sunita

STUDYING IN LOCKDOWN

Kaajal

GIRLS' HOSTELS
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What I admire about Karuna’s work is their grassroots approach to improving the lives of the most marginalised people in India and Nepal. I find their commitment to the education of girls and women particularly inspiring as I believe it’s the greatest gift you can give to anyone.

— Kate Atkinson/ Karuna Ambassador

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