MENDHAM, NJ – BlinkNow is proud to announce that its Kopila Valley School has received an International School Award for the second consecutive year, this time honoring its innovative Futures Program. This initiative is designed to equip at-risk students with the skills and knowledge necessary to become self-sufficient citizens, supporting them in their next steps as they grow beyond Kopila Valley School and become changemakers in Nepal.

The Futures Program offers comprehensive support in career education, higher education scholarships, skills workshops, and guidance counseling for students from Grades 8-12 and post-graduation. Key components of the program include:

• Career Workshops: Students attend sessions led by professionals across various industries, including emerging green careers as part of the school’s environmental education. 
• Academic Competitions: Students join numerous competitions. For example, this past year, 56 students participated in a Regional Economics Olympiad, with one advancing to the national level. Additionally, nine students took part in a local Model United Nations event, where two received honorable mention awards. 
• Experiential Learning: Grade 10 students embark on annual trips to Kathmandu to explore Nepal’s cultural heritage, potential careers, and educational institutions. 
• Life Skills Training: The program emphasizes essential life skills such as money management, bill payment, and job application processes.

As a result of these efforts, 97% of Kopila Valley students pass Nepal’s Grade 10 basic schooling exam, positioning them as leaders in community transformation. 63% of graduates are pursuing higher education in diverse fields such as social work, teaching, engineering, medicine, and entrepreneurship. 100% of graduates have participated in a climate action project during their school years or after graduation – positively impacting their communities.

In 2024, Kopila Valley was honored with the International School Award for its Food and Farming Program, which integrates healthy school lunches with organic farming classes and partnerships with a local women’s farmer cooperative. This initiative not only addresses student nutrition but also promotes sustainable agriculture and healthy food access for local families.

These awards highlight Kopila Valley’s work to provide education to at-risk children as well as its goals to model and promote holistic student development programs for surrounding and regional schools.

For more information about Kopila Valley School and its Futures Program, visit www.blinknow.org/futures.

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More information:

Kopila Valley School, a project of the BlinkNow Foundation, is a leading educational institution in Surkhet, Nepal, dedicated to providing high-quality, holistic education to children from underserved backgrounds. Through innovative programs in sustainability, career readiness, and leadership development, the school empowers students to create a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

The BlinkNow Foundation provides an education and a loving, caring home for at-risk children. The foundation also provides community outreach to reduce poverty, empower women, improve health, and encourage sustainability and social justice – it fulfills its mission by providing financial support and management oversight to the Kopila Valley Children’s Home and Kopila Valley School in Surkhet, Nepal. In addition to the home and school, Kopila Valley runs a Health & Wellness program, Women’s Center, Home for At-Risk Students, Futures Career Readiness Program, and integrated Sustainability Program across all initiatives.

Press Contact: 

Katy Munden Hays

Public Relations Manager

[email protected]  |  www.blinknow.org