The Karuna Trust

When we knock on a door, we don't know what will happen next. Over the past six weeks, our lion-hearted volunteers have been knocking on the doors on the streets of London, embracing the uncertainty that comes with each encounter. On this fundraising appeal, the Lion Hearts — Bella, Karolina, Renate, Alex, and Kiara — connected 36 new supporters to our work in South Asia, with a lifetime giving value of £58,440. Our fundraising approach is rooted in Buddhist ethics, where patience and compassion guide our connections with potential supporters. Our volunteers spend this these six weeks: • Living in shared accommodation • Meditating together • Fundraising door-to-door or by telephone • Deepening their spiritual practice This unique experience transforms both our volunteers and the communities we serve. Each appeal broadens the network of people in the UK who choose to support and connect with the people we work with in South Asia. Together, we can ensure access to humane and decent work and basic education for all: with no-one left behind.

This past year marked the start of our new three-year strategy. We're amplifying the impact of our work with the most excluded communities in South Asia. We have clarified our goals to focus on the community-centred solutions you expect from us. Additionally, we are introducing several new initiatives that we plan to implement during this strategy period. These include: • Expanding Our Geographic Reach • Enhancing Community Resilience • Developing New Funding Streams Read more on page 4 of our Annual Review: https://lnkd.in/dNy7QWjs #Resilience #Strategy #CompassionInAction

Numbers only tell part of the story — but it's an essential part. High level numbers provide the broad outline; personal stories give us the finer detail. In the past year, Karuna has already made significant strides across India, Nepal and Bangladesh to directly impact the lives of hundreds of thousands. Our partnerships and initiatives have collectively reached over 800,000 individuals so far, which includes: 28,700 girls and boys were supported to remain in school, protecting them from the risks of child labour and early marriage and ensuring the opportunity to complete their education and build brighter futures. 31,000 women and girls were supported to enhance their access and awareness of their legal protections against violence and trafficking, empowering themselves with the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves and seek justice. 75,000 migrant workers and daily wage labourers were supported to secure stable livelihoods and access vital government welfare schemes, crucial to improve their economic stability and overall well-being. 25,000 individuals supported to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change through sustainable farming techniques and disaster preparedness training, strengthening the resilience, safety and food security of the most vulnerable communities Read more on page 6 of our Annual Review: https://lnkd.in/dNy7QWjs #Impact #NumbersANDstories #CompassionInAction

How do we create lasting impact for marginalised communities in South Asia?   To find out, read our Annual Review for 2023-24, centring the voices and stories of the communities with whom we work.   The Karuna family, comprising the Karuna Trust (UK), Karuna Germany (DE) and Karuna USA, achieved a combined total income of £3,003,692 for the financial year 2023-24.    We're grateful to all the individual donors, trusts and institutions who made this possible.   This generosity made it possible for us to commit £2,347,512 in programme delivery in 2023-24, an increase of £94,642 from the previous year.   Read about health worker Radhika, breaking the taboos of women’s health one school at a time; about Tejasvi, a 27-year-old woman escaping domestic violence and finding her voice at Urja; about community champion Kiran, bridging tradition and science to mitigate climate disasters.   With this work, we prove that a brighter future, free from poverty and inequality, is not just possible – it is inevitable. Read the full review here: https://lnkd.in/dNy7QWjs   #impact #grassroots #transformation

Since 2015, Karuna and PAWA London have partnered to support girls in West Bengal and Maharashtra through education, helping them break the cycle of poverty and build a brighter future. We collaborate with organisations who share our vision: both PAWA and Karuna emphasise the importance of education and gender equality. We know that schooling is a precondition for girls and women to take a stance against injustice and be integrated into society and the economy. PAWA focuses on a single purpose: to support underprivileged teenage girls’ education in Asia. Karuna addresses education, gender equality, sustainable livelihoods and climate resilience across India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. In this partnership, we focus on two education projects in India: one in the east, and one in the west. PAWA has supported around 1,600 girls in their partnership with us, enabling them to pursue educational opportunities that transform their futures. Girls have received educational support from age 13, now expanding to age 18 in the coming year. Karuna is deeply grateful for PAWA’s constant support of education in marginalised communities. Together, we are empowering a generation of girls to become catalysts for positive change in their communities. #EducateAGirl #InspireInclusion #EducationForAll

Amplifying the voice of co-founder Deepali D. Vandana, of our partner URJA TRUST. Thank you to Humans of Bombay for sharing her story. Because of her work, thousands of women and girls will have the opportunities for which she herself fought so hard.

Have you ever faced an obstacle that made you doubt your potential? What if your obstacle was being born a girl. In Nepal, girls struggle to complete school due to gender roles, oppression and economic issues. School challenges like outdated methods, harassment, and poor facilities lead many to drop out, marry early or enter labour migration. Only 40% of girls from discriminated backgrounds finish primary education. In Nepal, we work alongside local partners to make sure that girls have access to education and good health conditions. We know that long-term change requires the transformation of individuals as well as society. We work with local partners to change societal structures alongside developing girls' confidence, self-belief and skills. To support girls' education, we and our partners: - Train teachers in innovative methods and modern school management. - Develop livelihoods for families through women’s groups and training in trades. - Raise community awareness of the importance of girls' education. - Establish safe learning centres with necessary resources. - Form boys' clubs to promote gender equality and support girls' rights. - Create girls' clubs for peer support and mentorship. - Empower girls to speak up for themselves and their rights: in school, in their families and in society. #EducateAGirlChangeTheWorld #EducateAGirl #GenderEquality

What does it take to challenge deeply rooted expectations and stand up for justice? Meet Neha, a young woman from rural West Bengal, India. Faced with domestic violence and the threat of her sister's underage marriage, Neha chose to speak out against injustice. When she found out her sister's marriage had been agreed, she knew her sister would become the bride of an adult: she would become his property and there would be no reason for Neha to see her again. The future for the sisters looked bleak. Neha chose to speak up. She spoke to community social workers, who went directly to her family and ultimately the authorities, ensuring the marriage would not go ahead. Her actions not only saved her sister but also sparked a movement. Today, Neha leads gender equality discussions in nearby villages, preventing other child marriages. Her journey from a rural girl to a social advocate demonstrates the transformative power of standing up for what's right, even in the face of adversity. True leadership often emerges from unexpected places. Now Neha is realising her dream, and supporting others to realise theirs. Digital illustration by Ruchiramati Dharmachari Watch Neha's full story: https://lnkd.in/ebRQgdsH #LeadershipInspiration #SocialChange #GenderEquality

Karuna's three year strategy focusses on supporting excluded communities most impacted by the long-lasting effects of the pandemic and the ongoing climate crisis.   By 2026 we aim to invest £8.8 million towards achieving our programme objectives. The key areas for our work in South Asia are girls' education, protection of migrant workers and their livelihoods, prevention of violence against women and climate resilience.   Our aims are:   To support 50,000 families per year to access improved livelihood security and protection from exploitation.   To protect 20,000 women per year from violence and trafficking.   To empower communities, enabling 20,000 people per year who are living on the frontline of climate disasters to create resilient communities and mitigate the impacts of climate change.   #goals #2026 #compassioninaction #girlseducation #livelihoods #impact

Whether as diplomats, activists, UN peacekeepers or in countless other roles, women are crucial to achieving lasting peace. More on the need to uphold women's rights and recognize their indispensable role as peacemakers: https://lnkd.in/dnJYynSp