PRESS / MEDIA
In The News
Sunita Bhandari and Rajen Karki discuss Kopila Valley School’s wide-ranging sustainability initiatives, emphasizing the importance of place-based education, community engagement, and fostering students’ growth into independent, eco-conscious citizens.
The Morristown Green recounts a fabulous event celebrating the NEW documentary about BlinkNow at its Hometown Premiere in Morristown, New Jersey.
Kopila Valley staff Sunita, Maggie, Rajen, and Samjhana visited Shelburne Farms and reflect on their U.S. experience.
See the NEW trailer for Between the Mountain and the Sky! First released on IndieWire.com, this big news reached Yahoo and numerous other outlets.
Maggie Doyne’s mission in Nepal coming to MPAC screen, Nov. 3. The Morristown Green details Maggie’s journey from New Jersey to Nepal and to the new documentary Between the Mountain and the Sky.
Featuring Humanitarian Work in Nepal. AP News shared our release about the new documentary about BlinkNow premiering in Maggie’s home state of New Jersey.
creating economic and personal freedom. Two of our staff share some things we have learned at the Kopila Valley Women’s Center in the Impact Entrepreneur journal.
Home and Hope for Humanity. Maggie was profiled by The Women’s Eye about our work in Nepal and her reaction to the new documentary about her and the Kopila Valley family, Between the Mountain and the Sky.
at Mountainfilm festival. Between the Mountain and the Sky premiered in May 2024, garnering rave reviews from audiences and critics.
School Director Bina Rha wrote this opinion piece advocating for natural and whole-life learning in schools.
International School Leader Magazine featured an article from Sunita Bhandari, Sustainability Coordinator, and Rajen Karki, School Principal, in their June 2024 edition.
Rebecca Self reviews the school’s recent Eco Club Award in Nepal, as well as our history of sustainability education.
Featured in New Documentary. Maggie’s home community in New Jersey is excited about the announcement of the documentary film premiere!
70+ Kids, Expanded the Definition. Maggie was featured for Mother’s Day in firstforwomen.com — an article written by fellow Mendhamite and Mountainview graduate Jenna Cartusciello.
AT MOUNTAINFILM. The documentary featuring Maggie, Tope, and BlinkNow family stories was announced as a featured film at Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride, Colorado, USA.
BlinkNow’s proximity to the hardest-hit villages, along with long-term local relationships, allowed for quick and effective relief work in a time of crisis.
Maggie contributed to an article describing lessons learned and calling for an integrated development approach across communities.
to prepare rural Nepalese students for technology careers. BlinkNow and Smartworks Technology have partnered to offer opportunities for Kopila Valley students to study and intern in technology careers.
Our PGS farmers’ group achieved certification and was featured in Nepal Live Today.
Maggie, Tope, Ruth, and a number of Chatham supporters were profiled in this printed publication’s wonderful story of how the community has supported BlinkNow over the years.
Our PGS farmers’ group achieved certification and was featured in numerous news outlets, including Yahoo Finance.
Our staff share their knowledge with the world — Kopila Guidance Counselor Manjula and Public Relations Manager Katy wrote this article, to share how the freedom to dream helps the students we serve change their own futures and social impact on the world.
Many supporters and friends joined for the launch of the South Asian edition of Between the Mountain and the Sky.
The Nepali Times reviewed Maggie’s book in preparation for the South Asia launch of Between the Mountain and the Sky.
Volunteers with Hairdressers Without Borders came to share training and knowledge with beautician program participants at the Kopila Valley Women’s Center.
Read an excerpt of Maggie’s NEW book, Between the Mountain and the Sky, including the first encounter that changed her life trajectory and began her commitment to Nepal.
Maggie was interviewed about her unique path to motherhood, what she learned from her own mom, and her new book.
Maggie shares an excerpt of her book with SJ Magazine, as the publication recounts her work to her native New Jersey community.
Can you imagine being so passionate about a cause that you leave your own country, travel some 8,000 miles to an unfamiliar land and spend your last dollars to begin a dream to help children?
AWARDS
In 2024, Maggie Doyne was awarded the Gold award in Nonprofit Leadership.
Kopila Valley School was awarded for its healthy lunch and food access program for students.
Presented by Season Media in Nepal for Co-founder Tope Malla’s dedication, contribution, and remarkable achievement in promoting the social welfare of his fellow citizens.
2024: The green campus of Kopila Valley School is award-winning! We are earning our title “The Greenest School in Nepal.”
Maggie Doyne was recognized by CNN as their Hero of the Year in 2015!
The Sana Kishan farmer cooperative won this award for their work to open doors for women farmers and provide healthy food for the community, in partnership with Kopila Valley.
Kopila Valley won this award for promoting physical, mental, and relational health in the school and community.
2024: The Kopila Valley Women’s Center received the Janakdash Memorial Award by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).
Kopila Valley School earned a Green Difference Award as the Greenest School in Nepal from Project Green Schools in 2023.
Kopila Valley School’s Sustainability Ambassadors Club was awarded the Best Eco Club – Secondary School by the World Wildlife Federation Nepal.
Kopila Valley Sewa Samaj won this first-ever award from the Government of Nepal’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, on National Education Day 2023.
The Ambassador for the Environment honor was awarded to BlinkNow at a gala celebration in Dubai in October 2023.
2024: Acquisition International recognized BlinkNow for our work with children and women in Nepal.
Kopila Valley School was awarded a Green Apple Award for Sustainable Development in 2023, with students taking leadership in community environmental solutions.
Kopila Valley School earned a Green Difference Award as the Greenest School in Nepal from Project Green Schools in 2023.
Co-founder and CEO Maggie Doyne was named 2023 Inpiring Women of the Year by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries at their Women’s Leadership Forum.
Sustainability Coordinator Sunita Bhandari received the EE 30 Under 30 award and was chosen to join a cohort of global leaders in Environmental Education.
KVS was awarded for its innovation in education, including Girls’ Club waste management activities, at the intersection of gender justice and sustainability.
In 2021 and 2022, KVS was a Finalist in the Global High Schools category, winning acclaim for student-led conservation projects and a learning trip to Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
The BlinkNow Communications Team won this honor for the 2022 end-of-year mailer to report our challenges and successes for the year.
Our long-time team member Ruth Dekker was honored as one of Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill’s 2022 New Jersey Heroes.
Maggie was awarded the Forbes Excellence in Education Award in 2013 in recognition of her achievements in educating youth in Nepal.
Maggie Doyne was honored by the Dalai Lama as an Unsung Hero of Compassion in 2014.
MedAssets Norman Borlaug Humanitarian Award: The $100,000 award in 2010 was used to purchase land for the new high school.
Honored for our Virtual Dashain Gala, BlinkNow was awarded a bronze Telly Award in 2022 in their non-profit, not-for-broadcast division.
Maggie Doyne was awarded a $100,000 Do Something award in 2009, for her extraordinary achievement as a 21-year-old. These funds built the Kopila Valley Primary School.
