News
Karma Projects website launch 25/12/2007
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Kieran from Karma is doing a Fellowship with microfinance innovators Kiva.org! Oct 2008
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Belinda from Australia is placed at Childlife through Karma Projects - Feb 2009
Vision
Our vision is to assist in the struggle to alleviate poverty in the world by encouraging and helping individuals to work at the source of each problem. We refer to this as the grassroots - where the real heart of the situation lies and where the problem is best solved.
Increasing awareness of a problem is part of the process of alleviating that same problem, and by facilitating the placement of volunteers, we can help remove the smoke screen of ignorance that surrounds poverty and encourage a proactive approach to tackling it.
As global citizens we are recognising a worldwide shift towards what can be described as an awakening and with that, a clearer understanding of what is truly happening in the world - more specifically the role our governments play in preventing equality and justice.
More and more individuals are waking up to the reality that too many people in the world are restricted in life opportunities, in their ability to lead fulfilled lives, by the inherent inequality and injustice in the world.
However, from experience, we know that the individual can make a difference and we aim to bridge the gap between the people who really want to make a difference (you!) and the people who need your help.
History
The inspiration behind Karma Projects came from a small group of open-minded travellers who were fortunate enough to discover a small project for street children in Northern Thailand in 2006. Drawn together by a desire to make a difference in the world and to help those really in need - these individuals became a team who quickly fell in love with the beauty they found in the innocence and creative minds of 100 hungry children!
Together they discovered how much of a difference they could make to the lives of these children. Unfortunately however, they accepted (with some begrudgement and pain!) that they would have to return to their 'normal lives' - but not without offering the opportunity for others to taste a little of the satisfaction of what they had achieved, and what could so easily be experienced by others.
Thus it was that Karma Projects was born - because we believe that life is about fulfillment of the soul, a true awakening, which can so easily be experienced and lived by sharing our joy with others, to allow other souls to walk their paths!
Monica Chavez
Monica is a fully qualified Montessori School Teacher, who focuses on the Montessori principles of; independence, love and care to fully develop a child's potential.
Equal opportunities and the promotion of child and human rights are key motivators. Monica also promotes diversity and peace through care, the community and education.
Chris Fogden
I left university with the soul (!) purpose of wanting to save enough money to go travelling and work on development projects in the backwater of SE Asia. I soon got caught up in chasing a career as a Project Manager but not without the ever burning desire to get out there!
I finally did in 2006 when I left the UK for SE Asia. My path soon led me to a small orphanage in Northern Thailand, where I discovered a whole new purpose in life...improving the lives of a hundred lovely little orphans. They stole my heart and when a lack of financing finally saw me return to the UK - I vowed to myself and the team that we should find a way to continue to help and help others to discover the rewards of working as a volunteer!
Final thoughts - do it and don't look back.
Matthew Upton
After graduating with a degree in Politics, Matthew has worked in the Social Marketing field, primarily concerned with how market principles can be effectively applied to the attainment of morally and socially beneficial goals.
Matthew is about to return to Thailand with the objective of confronting and ideally tackling some of the inherent problems of citizenship faced by ethnic minority tribes in the area.
Kieran Ball
Kieran is a banker-turned-web-designer and a strong believer in the power of education in improving the standards of living in developing countries. He aims for Karma Projects to establish a reliable and diverse network of motivated individuals, and eventually expand to other projects around the world.