At Kopila Valley School in Surkhet, Nepal, learning is taking a giant leap forward. Thanks to our generous global community, we launched the Kopila Valley Maker Space—a special hands-on creative lab where students turn imagination into real-world technology.

For many young people in our rural region, technology access used to mean simply looking at a computer screen. Our new space changes that entirely. It gives middle and high school students direct access to tools like 3D printers, small computers, circuit supplies, design software, and traditional woodworking tools, all to cultivateSTEAM and problem-solving skills.

Instead of just reading about science and math in textbooks, kids now build, code, and test their own physical inventions.

Why This Matters

When you give young people the freedom and tools to invent, incredible things happen. The space helps bridge the digital divide for rural youth, giving them the exact skills needed for modern careers in engineering, design, and technology.

Here is what makes this project so exciting:

• Real Problem Solving: Students use design thinking to solve everyday community issues. They have already built working projects like automated streetlights, smart temperature monitors, and obstacle-avoiding robots. They recently even designed a full miniature model of the school campus!
• Closing the Gender Gap: Technology fields often lack female representation, but our Maker Space is changing that dynamic. Up to 60 percent of the participants in our intensive technical workshops are girls.
• Teacher Support: We are not just teaching students—partner Fablab trained 11 Kopila Valley teachers in advanced STEM and safety skills so they can guide our young inventors safely every day.

Looking to the Future

This laboratory is just getting started. We are embedding these hands-on projects directly into our standard school curriculum so every student benefits in Grades 8-12. Soon, we plan to open the lab to students from neighboring local schools through community workshops and innovation bootcamps, spreading these opportunities across the whole region.

Your support brought this space from a dream to a reality. Together, we are launching the next generation of Nepali thinkers, coders, and creators to build a brighter future for their entire community.