As one speaks to her, the enthusiasm, the vigor and her love for the less fortunate comes to the fore. They keep going, and to be honest it does not seem like there is any rest, because there does not seem to be an end to the problems confronting this world. That of destitutes, homeless, sick, aging and the needy. And their numbers swell each day.

And, they need compassion (Karuna) of others. For many Karuna is the only hope and solace. It helps to provide a vocation for the uneducated and underprivileged. It is a grass-roots organization that makes a difference in the lives of the needy and disadvantaged in several parts of the world.

What started as a small initiative by Lekha Sreenivasan and a group of friends in 1993, in New York, has now branched out with presence in Nairobi, Kenya, Washington DC, Dallas, Texas, Austria and India.

The cost for running this charity comes mainly from the dance programmes organized by Lekha and a couple of her trained disciples as well as from dinners organised by different Karuna Charities.

Philanthropists and charitably disposed organisations also provide funds to Karuna, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. And, it is no mean achievement considering that its pivotal axis, is leading a hectic life, hopping from country to country, every other year.

Karuna provided assistance to several welfare agencies in Kerala such as Abhaya, Missionaries of Charities of Mother Theresa, St. Vincent Poor Home, Nirmalanda Bhawan, St. Christina´s Home, Mahila Mandiram, Saranalayam, Hidayathul Islam Sangham, Spastic Society of Karnataka and Chennai, Catholic Congregation of the blind, Lucknow, Gujarat Earth Quake Fund, Homeless Shelters in New York and Washington and many more.

Karuna has distributed two containers of clothes and 8000 eye glasses in Kerala over the years through organizations like Lion’s club and Rotary. In 96, Karuna had arranged the community wedding of 22 poor girls.

The Thiruvananthapuram branch of Karuna was started in 1994. Vocational training center at Anayara, and Old age home, Chakkai are some of their beneficiaries.

Karuna is already supporting a street children’s home run by Don Bosco in Nairobi. It also has plans to start a vocational training center in Vienna and a battered women’s shelter in Washington.