Karuna : Compassion in action [link to homepage]
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Our History & Achievements

History

Proud karate practitioners

The Karuna Trust (originally called “Aid for India”) was established in London in 1980 by a group of Western Buddhists to provide funding and support to people from very poor slum dwelling communities in India. Many were Dalits (ex-'untouchable'), who had converted to Buddhism to forge a new identity outside the traditional Hindu caste system. Through this link we have been able to develop relationships of trust and understanding with some of the world's poorest and most disadvantaged people.

Increasingly we are using this expertise to make connections with other marginalized groups throughout India, as well as in Bangladesh, Nepal and Tibet.

There is no pressure on the people we help to change their religion: that would betray the principles of human dignity and empowerment of the individual that underlie our work.

We now fund projects enabling thousands of people to make progress towards lives of greater freedom and dignity.

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Achievements

A line of ladies learning their letters

Since our founding in 1980 we have:

  • Become a leading organisation working with people from Dalit (ex-'untouchable') communities
  • Funded projects that have enabled hundreds of thousands of people from poor and marginalized communities to change their lives
  • Helped establish an effective Dalit-run spiritual and social movement in India
  • Established links with a wide range of effective and committed partner organisations in India and Bangladesh
  • Promoted and embodied values of Buddhist-inspired social change

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