Matthieu Ricard sends update on Karuna-Shechen

From Matthieu Ricard, director of Karuna-Shechen, an organization that provides access to primary health care and education for the under-served populations of the greater Himalayan region.

“Dear Friends,

Thank you all for your interest in our work. I want to let you know about the latest developments in Karuna-Shechen. This year created a transformational opportunity for our organization. As we approach our ninth anniversary, we found this the perfect time for our team to step back, breathe, and to relax, after many years of hectic fieldwork. We can review what we have achieved during the last ten years, and learn from our successes and failures. It is also the moment to turn towards the future and consider how Karuna-Shechen can sustain its activities.

In late April, we held a conference in Bhutan and Nepal with the Karuna-Shechen founders, Rabjam Rinpoche and myself, our main benefactors and partners, members of the Karuna-Shechen branches (Hong Kong, France, USA, and Canada) and affiliates (Switzerland, England, and Belgium), project heads, and volunteers.
The following key issues were discussed:

• The nature of our mission and our long term vision
• The improvement of our fund raising activities.
• Our field programs: monitoring, evaluation, development, reporting.
• Defining our communication strategy to better inform each other and the public about our work.
• Human resources.

I am delighted to announce the appointment of Isabelle Pastor to fill the newly developed position of coordinator. She started her new job in February and the conference was her first opportunity to meet the Karuna-Shechen partners and members. She will work with a coordinated team, in close communication with me. Isabelle is an experienced worker in the humanitarian field. Until recently she was the director of the Shechen Medical Clinic in Kathmandu.

Her new job will include coordinating Karuna-Shechen’s various humanitarian projects, increasing the donor base, stepping up communications, and working with the international branches of Karuna-Shechen. Through this position, Isabelle hopes to maintain and expand the scope and activities of Karuna-Shechen and continue its strong legacy of providing support for those in need.

We also welcome Dani Laigret as the new Managing Director of Shechen Clinic in Kathmandu. Dani has a long distinguished career of service in the humanitarian field and worked in many underserved regions in the world. She is a trained nurse and a physical therapist. Dani is familiar with Nepalese and Tibetan culture and language, having lived in Nepal and Tibet for several years. She is enthusiastic about carrying on the mission of the clinic and plans to expand its services to a wider patient population.

We have also added Ros’Ana Reis to our coordination teams Ros’Ana was the manager of the Tsering Art School as well as one of its graduate artists. She has worked over the years designing graphics for Shechen Monastery and will be helping us with our website, newsletters, and communications.

With a reinforced volunteer team working in the field, strong commitments in the target areas, an international network of volunteers, and, above all, a compassionate and far-sighted vision. I feel extremely confident in the future of our activities and our capacity to continue to serve the most in need. Compassion in action is an attainable reality.

With all our gratitude.
Matthieu Ricard”