“In the blink of an eye, we can all make a difference.”
— Maggie Doyne, BlinkNow Co-Founder 

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OUR TEAM

“I found this beautiful community of women and villagers and elders who wanted to take part in this.”
– Maggie Doyne

BlinkNow may have started with the drive of one person, but it is the dedication and determination of one amazing team that makes everything hum. From “aunties” and “uncles” who keep our home happy to teachers who provide much more than education.

From the Kopila Board of respected leaders and elders in Nepal to the BlinkNow Board of Directors and staff in the US. From the cooks to the construction team to a group of remarkable directors. It is these resilient, beautiful people – most of whom come from the local community – that make Kopila Valley shine and BlinkNow stronger than ever.

BlinkNow may have started with the drive of one person, but it is the dedication and determination of one amazing team that makes everything hum. From “aunties” and “uncles” who keep our home happy to teachers who provide much more than education.

From the Kopila Board of respected leaders and elders in Nepal to the BlinkNow Board of Directors and staff in the US. From the cooks to the construction team to a group of remarkable directors. It is these resilient, beautiful people – most of whom come from the local community – that make Kopila Valley shine and BlinkNow stronger than ever.

We are all in this together.

OUR FOUNDERS

A woman and a man in traditional Nepali attire stand smiling in front of rustic buildings with lush greenery and hills in the background. The man is wearing a Dhaka topi.

Maggie Doyne and Tope Malla

Maggie and Tope co-founded the Kopila Valley Children’s Home together in 2007. After meeting at Ramana’s Garden in India, a children’s home primarily serving Nepali refugees, the two decided to enter into a partnership to serve the needs of Nepal’s children back in Tope’s home country. The two have been a dynamic duo ever since, running the organization side by side. When Maggie and Tope founded the Children’s Home in Surkhet in 2007, they named it Kopila Valley—“kopila” means “flower bud” in Nepali. Now “Kopila Valley” encompasses BlinkNow’s entire campus in Surkhet, where our little Kopilas get what they need to blossom and grow.

OUR FOUNDERS

A woman and a man in traditional Nepali attire stand smiling in front of rustic buildings with lush greenery and hills in the background. The man is wearing a Dhaka topi.

Maggie Doyne and Tope Malla

Maggie and Tope co-founded the Kopila Valley Children’s Home together in 2007. After meeting at Ramana’s Garden in India, a children’s home primarily serving Nepali refugees, the two decided to enter into a partnership to serve the needs of Nepal’s children back in Tope’s home country. The two have been a dynamic duo ever since, running the organization side by side. When Maggie and Tope founded the Children’s Home in Surkhet in 2007, they named it Kopila Valley—“kopila” means “flower bud” in Nepali. Now “Kopila Valley” encompasses BlinkNow’s entire campus in Surkhet, where our little Kopilas get what they need to blossom and grow.

BLINKNOW FOUNDATION TEAM

Leadership & Operations

Leadership & Operations

John_Estrella
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A woman with long, curly hair smiles at the camera. She is wearing a black shirt with white spots and standing in front of lush green foliage. The lighting is bright and sunny.
A woman with long brown hair, wearing a dark turtleneck and a patterned shawl. She has a circular pendant necklace. She is standing outdoors in front of a tree and greenery, smiling at the camera.
A woman with short brown hair smiles at the camera. She is wearing a patterned blouse and earrings, with a blurred natural background. The sun illuminates her face, highlighting her friendly expression.

BLINKNOW NEPAL

BLINKNOW NEPAL

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A person with dark, wavy hair and a beard is smiling broadly. They are wearing a blue shirt and a white vest. The background features a brick wall and green plants.
A person is standing outdoors wearing a light blue sweater and a gray scarf. The background features a blurred yellow building with windows. The individual has short dark hair and is looking directly at the camera.
Eva Manandhar
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A woman with long brown hair stands outdoors, smiling at the camera. She is wearing a navy blue floral blouse, and the background is a blurred image of green foliage.

BlinkNow Board of Directors

BlinkNow Board of Directors

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A woman with gray hair in a ponytail, wearing sunglasses and a gray jacket, sits outdoors near a body of water. She is looking to the side and smiling.
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Two people with colorful powder on their faces and clothes smile at the camera during a Holi celebration. They are wearing sunglasses and standing outdoors, surrounded by trees.
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KOPILA VALLEY TEAM

Children's Home

Children's Home

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Kopila Valley School

Kopila Valley School

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A woman with long dark hair is wearing a navy blue dress with white floral patterns. She is standing outdoors with lush green foliage in the background, looking towards the camera with a neutral expression.
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Program Area Leadership

Program Area Leadership

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Administration & Operations

Administration & Operations

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A man with a beard and a shaved head smiles at the camera. He is wearing a light blue polo shirt and is outdoors, with a green, blurred background of trees and leaves.
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Kopila Valley Board of Directors

Kopila Valley Board of Directors

A group of seven people stand in front of a building entrance. They are dressed in traditional attire, with the women wearing colorful saris and the men wearing hats and formal wear. A decorative symbol is seen above the door.

Krishna Bahadur Thapa (Chairperson)

Gagan Bahadur Malla (Vice Chairperson)

Man Bahadur Singh (Secretary)

Geeta Buda

Meena Buda

Sabita Chaudhari

Chandra Bahadur Shahi

Krishna Bahadur Thapa (Chairperson)

Gagan Bahadur Malla (Vice Chairperson)

Man Bahadur Singh (Secretary)

Geeta Buda

Meena Buda

Sabita Chaudhari

Chandra Bahadur Shahi

kopila valley board of directors

A group of seven people stand in front of a building entrance. They are dressed in traditional attire, with the women wearing colorful saris and the men wearing hats and formal wear. A decorative symbol is seen above the door.

Our Nepali board consists of respected local leaders, professionals, and elders who bring knowledge, expertise, and supervision to Kopila Valley. They wrote our bylaws, hold community meetings, and meet monthly to discuss new and ongoing Kopila projects and approve spending. The Kopila Board consists of Tope Malla (Co-founder and Chairman), Minkosha Shahi (Vice Chairwoman), Gogan Malla (Secutary), Kalpana Karki (Treasurer), Man Bahadur Singh, Ganga Thapa, and Gita Buda.

Krishna Bahadur Thapa (Chairperson)

Gagan Bahadur Malla (Vice Chairperson)

Man Bahadur Singh (Secretary)

Geeta Buda

Meena Buda

Sabita Chaudhari

Chandra Bahadur Shahi

Want to join our team?
View our current volunteer and job listings.

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Maggie Doyne, Co-Founder and CEO

Maggie Doyne has dedicated her life to educating children and empowering women in Nepal. As a teenager from New Jersey, she visited Nepal and decided to build a life in Surkhet to help children. She believes that everyone has the power to change the world, in the blink of an eye! She is Co-founder and CEO of the BlinkNow Foundation and author of Between the Mountain and the Sky: A Mother’s Story of Love, Loss, Healing, and Hope. She and her husband and two biological children live with her adopted children in the Kopila Valley Children’s Home. Maggie’s work has been recognized by CNN Heroes, the Dalai Lama, Elizabeth Gilbert, Katie Couric, Forbes, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan of Sussex, and The New York Times Magazine.

Smiling person with light brown hair, wearing small earrings and a red top, against a white background.

Maggie Doyne, Co-Founder and CEO

Maggie Doyne has dedicated her life to educating children and empowering women in Nepal. As a teenager from New Jersey, she visited Nepal and decided to build a life in Surkhet to help children. She believes that everyone has the power to change the world, in the blink of an eye! She is Co-founder and CEO of the BlinkNow Foundation and author of Between the Mountain and the Sky: A Mother’s Story of Love, Loss, Healing, and Hope. She and her husband and two biological children live with her adopted children in the Kopila Valley Children’s Home. Maggie’s work has been recognized by CNN Heroes, the Dalai Lama, Elizabeth Gilbert, Katie Couric, Forbes, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan of Sussex, and The New York Times Magazine.

A bald man in a plaid shirt smiles while standing outdoors. He is looking to the side, and the background is a blurred assortment of structures and greenery.

Tope Bahadur Malla, Co-Founder and Chairman

Tope Bahadur Malla is the co-founder and chairman of Kopila Valley. After serving at Ramana’s Garden for over 15 years, a project for Nepali refugees in India, Tope made the decision to return to his birth country and found Kopila. Tope grew up in a small Himalayan village where he was orphaned at a young age. Kopila is his way of giving the children of his country the childhood he always dreamed of. As Maggie’s partner, Tope is responsible for the development, oversight, and management of Kopila Valley on the ground. He oversees a staff of over 50 people and is the key to making ideas become reality at Kopila. He now lives at the Kopila Valley project with his wife and son.
A bald man in a plaid shirt smiles while standing outdoors. He is looking to the side, and the background is a blurred assortment of structures and greenery.

Tope Bahadur Malla, Co-Founder and Chairman

Tope Bahadur Malla is the co-founder and chairman of Kopila Valley. After serving at Ramana’s Garden for over 15 years, a project for Nepali refugees in India, Tope made the decision to return to his birth country and found Kopila. Tope grew up in a small Himalayan village where he was orphaned at a young age. Kopila is his way of giving the children of his country the childhood he always dreamed of. As Maggie’s partner, Tope is responsible for the development, oversight, and management of Kopila Valley on the ground. He oversees a staff of over 50 people and is the key to making ideas become reality at Kopila. He now lives at the Kopila Valley project with his wife and son.

WHO WE ARE

Thanks for your interest in the BlinkNow team! You can explore the WHO WE ARE drop down menu for more information about our mission, our history, and our team.

WHAT WE DO

Thanks for your interest in BlinkNow’s work! Explore the WHAT WE DO drop down menu for more information about our programs.

GET INVOLVED

Thanks for your interest in getting involved! Monthly donations have the greatest impact on our mission, but you can find other ways to get involved using the MENU button to explore other options.