Compassion in Action

Seva Foundation started as a small group with a big idea, and the idea was this: To be fully human, we must translate our compassion and concern into useful service.

That simple statement conveys something about the nature of compassion that is expressed in most spiritual traditions around the world — that compassion is not just about helping those less fortunate than ourselves, it's about the realization that we are all connected as one human family.

That sense of compassionate service motivates all of Seva's work, as we build programs that support people around the world in their efforts to build healthy communities.

Seva's programs, spanning many cultures and countries, share certain fundamental principles:

Serving the Underserved Our programs serve people who have been economically, politically, or otherwise marginalized.  We change our program approach to relate to their culture and circumstances, reaching out in very different ways, for example, to nomads in Tibet, women in Tanzania, or indigenous Mayans in Guatemala.  Our aim is to build a bridge of compassion between our donors and the people we serve — people around the world who have the fewest resources. Building Healthy Communities

Seva embraces an expanded concept of health, recognizing that spiritual and cultural renewal, economic self-sufficiency, and basic civil and human rights are as important to well-being as medical care.

Promoting Sustainability
Seva's programs foster self-reliance and aim to reduce dependence on outside assistance.  In the communities where we work, we share skills and technlogy appropriate for local conditions, assist local decision-making, and help launch projects that will become financially self-sufficient.  This transfer of knowledge enables communities to care for their own, now and into the future.

Working Through Partnerships
We form long-term partnerships with those we serve.  By developing close relationships with local organizations and community leaders, we build trust, mutual respect and cultural understanding.  We honor the ability of communities to define their own solutions to the challenges they face. 

"Helping out is not some special skill.  It is not the domain of rare individuals.  It is not confined to a single part of our lives.  We simply heed the call of that natural impulse within and follow it where it leads us." Ram Dass Co-Founder and Honorary Lifetime Board Member Seva Foundation