2015

contents

NISHTHA 3

EDUCATION 5

GENDER EQUALITY 7

MAP 12

LIVELIHOODS 13

A RAY OF HOPE 15

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE FUTURES 18

THIS YEAR YOU HELPED TO... 19

FINANCIALS 21

3

5 13 19

7 15

As a charity inspired by Buddhist values, Karuna believes that lasting social change only happens when prejudice and ignorance is transformed and everyone is seen as truly equal. The projects described in this report aim to give marginalised communities equal choice and an equal voice through Education, Gender Equality and Training for Improved Livelihoods.

As you will see, even small amounts of help can have a tremendous impact in giving people the courage to make positive changes in their lives. Over the past year, more than 90,000 men, women and children have participated in Karuna projects, with a further 600,000 indirectly benefiting. Karuna partners with grassroots organisations spread over nine States throughout India.

Over the next few years we plan to reach out into some of the Northern States of India where the problems of poverty and caste discrimination are particularly acute and to expand our programmes into Nepal, where long-standing problems of poverty and inequality have been exacerbated by the recent terrible earthquake.

None of this would be possible without the ongoing support of our regular donors. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your generosity.

Ciaran Maguire

CEO Karuna Trust

welcome to the karuna 2015 annual review

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Adolescent girls group put up posters to raise awareness of the dangers of child marriage

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Nishtha means ‘devotion’ in Bengali. It’s also the name of a Karuna-funded organisation that is devoted to improving the lives of women and girls in rural West Bengal, south of Kolkata. Founded 35 years ago by a local woman, Nishtha promotes girls’ education, challenges violence and fights for women’s rights, building women’s self-reliance and creating strong communities where they have a voice.

In India, many girls from the poorest families are still forced into early marriage. Denied an education and unable to access economic and life opportunities, they are unlikely to break free from poverty. The harsh lives of some women are worsened by domestic violence which thrives when women are disempowered and dependent.

Due to the commitment and determination of Nishtha staff and volunteers, change is happening. Their work is winning over whole communities to the idea that girls have the right to go to school and to a better future.

Project Manager Mina Das has watched the organisation thrive since it was founded by her mother. “From my childhood I had lots of experience of suffering,” she recalls. “My mother cried when she heard women’s stories. She wanted to do something.”

Girls who stay in school longer have fewer, healthier children. Mina says: “If we don’t empower women, society will shatter. It is our dream that they will be the change makers.” Commitment and devotion are at the heart of Nishtha’s work and, to Mina, the group’s leaders are the real heroes. “They have nothing, only love and energy and a wish to do something for others.”

Through Nishtha, Karuna is supporting 1,000 girls and 1,000 mothers in rural West Bengal. Mina knows Karuna brings more than just financial support. “We always feel you are with us as a friend and brother, sister or family member.”

nishtha, rural west bengal

Mina Das

education…For India’s poorest and most marginalised communities, education is key to escaping the burden of poverty and discrimination.

Many Dalit and Tribal Children either never access education or drop out of school, instead following their parents into unskilled labour where they earn well below subsistence in appalling conditions.

Karuna is helping 14,000 boys and girls across India to enjoy a quality education, to escape poverty and to look forward to a brighter future.

inspired to help othersArpita Naskar wants to graduate from school and become a social worker. At one time, this would have seemed impossible.

When Arpita was nine, the father she adored broke his spine in an accident. Paralysed and no longer able to work, her mother had to work three different jobs, commuting every day to Kolkata. Arpita was left to care for her father and their home.

Part of Nishtha’s mission is to send each and every girl to school, empowering them to bring about change. During a home visit, a Nishtha social worker found Arpita cooking a meal in tears after her father had passed away. Out of school for six months, she risked dropping out completely. Nishtha agreed to support Arpita’s family so that she could return to school.

The funding Nishtha provided for Arpita’s school fees, extra tutoring, school uniforms and books was life-changing. Now a quietly confident 16-year-old student, she loves English, history, geography and science.

She says: “When I go to school I meet my friends and I feel happy. I like learning. Reading a story takes me away from the world I live in.”

Arpita says her father would have been proud to see her sitting her exams.

As a member of Nishtha’s adolescent girls’ group, Arpita takes part in sport and is a passionate campaigner against early marriage. She wants to tell mothers: “Don’t give your child away in marriage before she is 18. Let her complete her education.”

Like many girls you’re supporting, Arpita’s life has been transformed by receiving an education. According to her: “Nishtha has helped me in so many ways. I have been inspired by the sisters of Nishtha and would like to work like them – to help others, so that they can have a better life.”

Children supported to complete their education:14,281

Parents involved in awareness raising campaigns on the importance of education: 27,000

States covered: 4

Projects supported: 34

Funding: £576,371

6Arpita is able to complete her education thanks to your support

gender equalityDalit women in India suffer the double disadvantage of gender and caste discrimination. Girls are often unable to access or sustain education and many are illegally married off at a very young age, perpetuating a cycle of poverty.

Karuna supports programmes which educate whole communities about these issues, supporting 6,000 young women to stay in education as long as possible and empowering 14,000 women to claim and stand up for their rights.

women are the change makersAnita Naskar is a remarkable woman. A Nishtha women’s group leader, her colleagues describe her as ‘strong, fearless and dynamic’.

Anita works with groups of women in five local villages. “From early childhood I have seen such atrocities against women, such violence – the husband coming home drunk and beating up the wife, deserting the wife and children.”

Some women Anita knows have not been allowed outside their home for years. “In the villages of Bengal, the woman is afraid and doesn’t want to tell her story. I have to build a friendship with her, so I say: ‘At least share your pain with me and the other members of the group. We want to help you. We want to end your problems’.”

When the women begin to share their stories Anita explains what Nishtha can do. “We say: ‘If there is no food, we can help you to get food. If there is no-one to take you, we will take you to the doctor. We can give you some money to run the family for a while’.”

To bring about change, Anita knows she must engage with the men. She does this with intelligence, skill and diplomacy. “We want them to understand, to see the consequences of their actions. We tell them: ‘We want your help, we need your support. This is all about the education of your children, how the family income can increase. It’s about the wellbeing of the family as well as your wife’.”

With support from Karuna, courageous and inspiring women like Anita Naskar can continue their work. Anita says: “Nishtha helped me to understand one thing - that doing something only for myself is not enough. I need to help others. If others are in trouble I should always protest. It was only after joining Nishtha that I had the confidence and the strength to do it.”

Women benefiting from leadership

training: 14,000

Girls involved in gender awareness and life skills

training: 6,300

Number of states covered by gender awareness training and campaigns:

Funding: £403,460

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8Anita Naskar, women’s group leader

‘for my daughter, i stood my ground’Nishtha’s women’s groups are transforming the lives of women and changing the attitudes of men in rural West Bengal.

In rural villages, many women have been married young and are confined to their homes, where they are socially isolated and domestic violence can continue undetected.

Taposi lived peacefully with her husband and two children for several years until, one day, everything changed. While out walking, Taposi’s five-year-old son Aranab was hit by a speeding ambulance, dying soon afterwards in her arms.

Taposi’s husband blamed her for the death. He took to drink and beat her mercilessly. Once, he tried to hang her and she had to be rescued by a relative. On another occasion, in a drunken frenzy, he set the house on fire. Taposi recalls: “Everyone advised me to leave home but it was for my daughter that I stood my ground.”

Taposi’s neighbour contacted one of Nishtha’s women’s groups and they attempted to reason Taposi Chakarborty

‘we can change the world’Mallika Mondal was 10 when she joined Nishtha. Now 18, she is leader of the adolescent girls’ group.

As well as promoting the right to have an education, the girls practice Karate together to keep fit and gain confidence. Karate-trained, Mallika is not afraid to fight for her independence.

“One evening after class I was walking home in the dark. There were stories of women being raped in the area. A boy stood at a quiet part of the road, where I had to cross. He called me names. I said: ‘If you do anything I will teach you a lesson.’

He stopped my bicycle and forcefully brought me down. I started to run away. Two men were chasing me. I took one man by the shoulder, brought my knee to his chest and punched him on the chin.

We girls are confident that we can protect ourselves! I don’t want people to say we are worthless. I want them to look at us and say we can change the world!”

with her husband – but he refused to listen and the abuse continued. Nevertheless, the women persisted and, after two years of intensive family support, Taposi’s husband had completely changed. He stopped drinking and became supportive of Taposi’s involvement in the women’s group where she eventually became a group leader.

Nishtha’s women’s group offer an opportunity to earn money, but they also act as a powerful support network of women where violence will not go unchallenged.

Taposi now supports her family through the sale of her embroidery, an initiative chosen and set up by her group. She says: “I don’t want my daughter to lead the same kind of life. I don’t want her to suffer. I want her to enter college and become independent.”

Thanks to your support, Nishtha has given Taposi confidence and courage. “Before Nishtha, I had no companionship, no friends, nothing. After joining the group, I could share my problems. I know there are people around who will support and protect me.”

10Mallika Mondal

Men with the courage to talk The men’s self-help group meets in an inviting community room in Nagpur - a peaceful haven in the midst of a slum.

The men – who are all poorly-paid labourers – used to create havoc in their families and communities. Many were addicted to alcohol or drugs, used violence and were involved in crime.

At first, women laughed at the idea of a men’s group, thinking the men would not co-operate

and the project would fail. Instead, the men are turning their lives around.

Through group discussion, they become aware of how their behaviour is damaging their wives, children and families and are learning to respect women and the importance of educating their children. Group-funded financial loans allow them to get back on their feet and earn a living.

Project Leader Ratnodaya says: “Once the group decides to give a loan, both husband and wife have joint responsibility. This is to encourage a partnership and to

build trust and confidence in the relationship.”

Group member Shailesh Gorakhnath Kaware is quiet and reserved. He remembers: “One day I saw men in a group having a discussion. They looked like good people. I thought they might be able to help me change myself.”

Shailesh has stopped drinking and he no longer gets into fights in the street or with his family. “I took a loan for my children’s education and admission fees for my daughter to get into college. My daughter has passed her exams. Life feels good now.”

Men involved in gender awareness

training:

10,841

Boys involved in gender awareness

training: 6,300Men's self-help group with Shailesh Gorakhnath Kaware

Delhi and Uttar Pradesh

WestBengal

Pondicherry

Madhya Pradesh

Rajasthan

Gujarat

Kerala

Jammu& Kashmir

Punjab

HimachalPradesh

Uttarakh

Chhattis

garh

Andhra Pradesh

Karnataka

Odisha(Orissa)

SikkimNepal

TripuraMizoram

Manipur

NagalandAssam

Arunachal Pradesh

Maharashtra

Jarkhand

480

725

2,252

2,537

18,000

69,542

3,300

Goa

Bihar

The numbers on the map show how many people we have helped in 2014/15. Each circle shows the proportion of people helped per theme.

Education

Gender Equality

Livelihoods

where we work

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livelihoods…Despite the illegality of ‘untouchability’, millions of Dalit people are still condemned to caste-based occupations, such as disposing of human excrement or animal carcasses by hand.

Karuna supports locally-based community groups that are helping more than 16,000 Dalit people to get decent, dignified and higher-paid employment. Some provide training in business development, entrepreneurship and other vocational skills. Some offer start-up loans, savings schemes and microcredit. Others promote safer, healthier working conditions. Together, they are helping people break free from degradation and develop new, dignified livelihoods.

Men and women supported to develop new livelihoods:11,512

Students benefitting from career guidance: 4,896

States covered: 9

Projects supported: 34

Funding: £173,000

More than just books and uniformsAlpana Chakraborty’s story is like those of many women Karuna supports. In families whose livelihoods are fragile, one piece of bad luck can trigger a downward spiral.

Alpana’s husband, a hawker on India’s railways, provided for his family until 2010 when he fell from a moving train. Though he survived, he could no longer support the family. When Alpana’s two grandchildren, Hema and Suniya came to live with their grandparents after their father abandoned them, Alpana had to provide for both girls. The family often went without food in order to

pay the rent but, sometimes, had no money for either.

Two years ago, Nishtha became aware of the family’s problems and began to support them. Nishtha provided funds for school fees, uniforms and books so that Alpana’s granddaughters could go to school. With a loan from Nishtha’s women’s group, Alpana was able to start a business to enable them to continue their education.

Every morning, Alpana does her household chores before working as an official hawker on the trains from 3pm till 11pm. It’s a hard life, but she says: “I don’t have any problems working at the station. All the other hawkers are very caring and ask about my wellbeing.”

14Suniya (left) and Hema (right) on their way to school. Alpana and Gobinda look on

Supriti was born severely disabled and cannot walk, talk or hear. She has seizures, is doubly incontinent and cannot feed herself. At six, she is already too heavy for her mother to carry but the family can’t afford a wheelchair nor the medicine and physiotherapy Supriti needs.

Supriti has a nine-year-old sister Subarna and two loving parents. Every morning, her mother Swagata washes Supriti’s bed, makes breakfast and takes Subarna to school. Then she has to collect water and firewood. She worries about leaving Supriti alone in the house but she has no choice.

Swagata finds life very distressing, but meeting Nishtha social workers has given her a lifeline. Thanks to our supporter, the late Mr. Terence Cox who kindly left a gift to Karuna in his will, Nishtha is setting up a daycare centre for 25 disabled children. The centre will provide a stimulating social space for both parents and children, providing medical care, speech and physiotherapy. It also aims to educate the local community and eradicate the stigma associated with disability.

Nishtha’s daycare centre will transform the lives of families like Supriti’s. Swagata says: “All I want is for my daughter to learn how to feed herself and use the bathroom. Finding Nishtha has given me a ray of hope.”

a gift that lasts forever…Although Terence Cox was unable to become a regular donor, after hearing about Karuna’s work he left a gift in his will, allowing Karuna to provide Nishtha with the funding needed to expand their work.

Hundreds of women and girls from the villages turned out for a special tree planting and traditional Bengali ceremony to celebrate a person whom they had never met but changed their lives through his legacy gift.

‘a ray of hope’ from a karuna supporter

Swagata (left), Supriti (middle) and Subarna (right)

16Mina Das, Nishtha Project Manager

“It is so nice that Mr. Cox has left this gift to Karuna Trust to help disabled women and girls. He inspired everybody. Whenever people come they will ask who is he? The women will tell them that this person had a very big heart and that he gave so much to Karuna. There are so many good people in the world and people should know about these things. It is really encouraging”

thanks also to the many trusts and foundations who continue to support our work, including::

The Shears Foundation

Miss KM Harbinson’s Charitable Trust

Staples Charitable Trust

Reed Elsevier Cares

The Brillig Charitable Trust

The Henry Hyam Wingate Foundation

The Martineau Family Charity

Make My Day Better

North South Travel

Zephyr Charitable Trust

The Peter Stebbings Memorial Charity

The CBD Charitable Trust

Mood Foods

Remembering Francis GoldingWe would like to express our gratitude for a special gift we received in memory of Francis Golding, who died in November 2013.

Francis was one of the UK’s most influential architectural consultants. He had a great love of India and its art and culture, having regularly visited the country since the 1970s. Our thoughts and thanks go to Satish Padiyar and his friends and family.

In memory and legacy gifts are most welcomed and deeply appreciated by Karuna. Thanks to your gift, we can work towards our vision to help change the lives of disadvantaged Dalit communities for the future.

building sustainable futures

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By training our partners in strategic planning, project management and fundraising, Karuna is able to build stronger organisations. All of this grassroots work provides skills and confidence to local community organisations enabling them to grow and change the lives of more people.

Following one of our recent fundraising workshops in Nagpur, a long standing Karuna project leader shared her experience. Karunadeepa, who runs Jeevak, says: “In recent years, Karuna has encouraged us to look for funds in India. I realised depending on someone was not very empowering, but I had not done any fundraising in my life. Karuna was very helpful in encouraging us and supporting us to fundraise. After a while we started getting success.”

Jeevak managed to secure funds from the Bill Gates Foundation for maternal health. “This grant gave us a lot of confidence. It was very empowering. It was inspiring. We realised – yes, we can do this! ”

Jeevak then received funding from the Indian government for scholarships for widows’ children and another funder provided money for teachers’ salaries. Now, with support from Tech Mahindra, children are being trained in IT skills.

Karunadeepa says: “We saw fundraising like begging at first but this attitude changed. We are not asking for ourselves, we are asking for the beneficiaries. If we can get funds from Bill Gates, then why not anyone else?”

Karunadeepa shares her experience with other Karuna project leaders

this year you helped to…rebuild communities in nepal After the earthquake in Nepal, many of our supporters wanted to do something to help. The situation was dire and many people had lost all their possessions.

Karuna works in partnership with a medical organisation with a long track record of working with the poorest people in the area, so we knew that aid would reach those most in need.

We received more than £17,000 which will support the project for the next two years, long after the media spotlight has gone. It was also used to supply medicines, blankets and food to 130 of the poorest families in the Pharping district and provided tents to 200 families who lost their homes.

Thank you for your support.

liberate child labourers in maharashtraThis spring, through the generosity of our supporters, we raised an amazing £14,583 for our partner NISD (National Institute for Sustainable Development).

NISD is literally transforming the lives of thousands of Dalit children in some of the poorest communities in Sangamner, Maharashtra. Instead of spending their days in tobacco factories with their mothers, the children are given access to education and the chance of a brighter future.

support vulnerable women and girlsThis year, our Big Give Christmas Challenge raised a record £65,000 to help end caste violence against women. The funds were for two remarkable projects Karuna supports - the Human Rights Law Network, which trains rape survivors as paralegals, and Urja, which gives shelter and support to homeless and abused girls in Mumbai. Thanks to all who donated!

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If you would like to join Rachel and fundraise for Karuna please contact fundraising@karuna.org to receive our fundraising pack with lots of fun and exciting ideas.

whatare you

compassionateabout

Do what you love today to giveothers a better life tomorrow

Fundraise for Karunakaruna.org

2692 - Karuna Fundraising Pack - Brochure.indd 1 05/02/2015 13:23

Pedal powering girls’ educationI decided to celebrate my 60th Birthday by training for the Dunwich Dynamo – a 120-mile night ride from East London to the Suffolk Coast. As a long-term supporter of Karuna’s efficient, ethical, sustainable work, I invited people to donate to Nishtha, a project that is empowering women and girls in West Bengal. Having been a teacher for nearly 40 years, I believe in the transformative potential of education. So, if my cycling legs help keep some girls on their educational journeys rather than early marriage, they will have done something useful.

Karuna supporter, Rachel Robinson (right)

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, our income has increased on last year to £1.88 million. We are particularly grateful for the increasing number of supporters who are considering Karuna in their wills. This year we received £207,000 in legacies.

In December 2014 you helped us to raise £65,000 through the Big Give Christmas Challenge. These funds for 2015-16 are going to the Human Rights Law Network, which trains rape survivors as paralegals, and Urja, which gives shelter and support to homeless and abused girls in Mumbai.

Despite an increase in our fundraising costs we were still able to invest an additional £84,000 in project delivery last year and put aside an additional £113,232 for upcoming project delivery.

Some of the additional grants we were able to make include:

£45,000 bought new computers and IT equipment to give poorer communities access to essential educational support and e-learning

£39,000 part-funded construction work on three hostel buildings giving an additional 50 students the opportunity to complete their education and providing improved facilities and accommodation for 150 students

our financial summary

The funds put aside will be used to increase grants to selected project partners – including the Nishtha project for girls’ education. It will also help us to start work with new project partners and beneficiaries in Chhattisgarh and Nepal.

INCOME

Individual Donations

Legacies

Charitable Trusts

DFID

Other

EXPENDITURE

Project Delivery

Fundraising

Governance

These figures are extracted from the Karuna Trust Statutory accounts, which are available on our website.

2014-15 2013-14

INCOME £ £

Individual Donations 1,396,316 1,358,528

Legacies 207,286 279,245

Charitable Trusts 177,026 160,160

DFID 67,269 47,360

Other 38,674 10,212

1,886,571 1,855,505

EXPENDITURE £ £

Project Delivery 1,202,499 1,117,709

Fundraising 547,005 454,494

Governance 23,835 25,970

1,773,339 1,598,173

Surplus to Reserves 113,232 257,332 22

CEOCiaran Maguire

Karuna trusteesUlla Brown, ChairDavid ZukasProf. Dominic HoulderAmanda SellerZoe Stephenson Dr William McGinley

PatronDame Judi Dench DBE

The Karuna Trust 72 Holloway Road London N7 8JG UK

0207 700 3434 info@karuna.org

www.karuna.org

facebook.com/karuna.org

twitter.com/karuna_trust_uk

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The Karuna Trust is a registered charity No 327461

The trustees are all members of the Triratna Buddhist Order