Kopila Valley is termed the тАЬgreenest school in NepalтАЭbecause of its eco-friendly green campus, and because of its learning methods.
The construction includes rammed earth walls from local materials and on-grid solar electricity that powers the campus entirely when the sun is shining. Water is captured and conserved through rainwater harvesting, and then it is reused after natural treatment through greywater and blackwater wetlands.
The school farm is a space for integrating environmental topics into the classroom while regenerating soil, integrating animal husbandry and farming to improve soil composition. Food for the healthy school lunch program comes from the campus garden or is sourced locally from the partner PGS (Participatory Guarantee System) farmersтАЩ group.
A number of school clubs focus on sustainability and environmental action, and students and graduates are becoming local leaders in waste management initiatives.
Awards Throughout 2023
In March, Kopila Valley School received the┬аGreen Difference Award. From┬аProject Green Schools, this award is designed to empower youth to drive positive change toward creating a greener, healthier, and more sustainable future. Kopila Valley was honored in the тАЬGreen and Healthy SchoolsтАЭ category for the тАЬGreenest School in Nepal.тАЭ
Also in March, Kopila ValleyтАЩs Sustainability Coordinator┬аSunita┬аBhandari┬аwas named to the┬а┬аEnvironmental Education 30 Under 30┬аand now joins a cohort of young changemakers from around the world, to enhance their professional development and share ideas with others.
The┬аGreen Apple Award┬аshowcases the community effort to prioritize environmental best practices in all Kopila Valley programs. This honor in May focused on the schoolтАЩs environmental education initiatives and the impact it has on the community of Surkhet.
BlinkNow Co-Founder Maggie Doyne was named a┬а2023 Inspiring Woman of the┬аYear┬аin Nepal by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries at their WomenтАЩs Leadership Forum.
In August,┬аBETT Asia┬аchose Kopila Valley School for its Sustainability Initiative Award in its awards for innovation in education.
Kopila Valley School won the first-ever┬аSocial Welfare Education Award┬аfrom the Government of NepalтАЩs Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in September.
GESS Education┬аawarded BlinkNow the Ambassador for the Environment honor at a gala celebration in Dubai in October.
BlinkNowтАЩs mission is to care for children and women in rural Nepal,┬аas well as to inspire others to create social and environmental change. These recognitions mean that this goal is being accomplished.
