Creating Compassionate Communities in Spiti MUSE

In what seems to be an increasingly apathetic and busy world, compassion is what keeps things from falling apart. Compassion is arguably one of the most powerful forces that brings people together. It is the triumph of the oneness in human spirit – where we are quick not only to celebrate our successes, but also lift each other up in times of need.

Nowhere is compassion more vibrant than in the
mountain communities of Spiti Valley

This spectacular cold desert provides the most idyllic backdrop for a home but life here can get difficult. When the chips are down, the tight-knit local community remains a constant in Spiti. Life remains a melodious Spitian song because everyone here shares in the common struggles and joys of mountain living.

We have, however, often come across initiatives and people in Spiti who wish to contribute and give back much more to their communities. Most of the time they are unable to do so due to lack of resources. Additionally, several noble and heart-warming initiatives generally come to a halt since there are no funds to keep them going.

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.
- Dalai Lama

Interventions

To encourage and enable compassion to grow further within the community and to help remove financial bottle necks where they are an impediment, we provide support to endeavours in the valley with noble causes and to individuals or families in need.

Support to the Elderly

IMPACT

Financial support for 3+ years to meet annual food requirements

Unlike the old age homes most are familiar with, the need for one in Spiti emerges from a slightly different context. During the short summer months everyone in the family is extremely busy either out in the fields or involved in other livelihood activities. Hence families often struggle to care for their elderly.

A group of individuals in Spiti recognized this need and established an old age home. During the summer months, the old age home provides care and support to around 30 elderly from across the valley.

Over the years we have endeavoured to support this cause in every way possible. We supported them financially to provide nutritious food to the elderly. We also felt regular interactions with them could be another way of supporting them. Over the years we have made it a point to drop in for a chat, an exercise-dance session (which the elderly just love!), a physiotherapy session or just to help with chopping and storing wood for the winter.

Make a Difference

Join us in brightening up lives!

Visit the old age home while in Spiti or donate warm clothes

If you’re a doctor or a physiotherapist, we can plan a session for the elderly

Compassion Bonus

A single act of compassion can change a person’s life forever

IMPACT

INR 2,50,000 contributed to individuals in need

This holds true both for the recipient and the giver. In order to inculcate and help build the practice of giving and compassion amidst our staff we conceptualized a ‘Compassion Bonus’ for the staff. As part of the Compassion Bonus, each member of staff is paid 1 months extra salary to support people in need, or a cause that is close to their heart in Spiti.

Over the years, the staff has stepped in to help several people in need. Some of them include the family of a patient terminally ill with bone cancer, a kidney transplant for a young man, a single parent with disabilities, support to a widow who was paralysed waist-down with limited means of livelihood, amongst others.