The BlinkNow Foundation has been named a finalist for the 2023 GESS Education Awards in the “Ambassador for the Environment” category. This highlights its programs to increase environmental awareness and sustainable lifestyles in the community of Surkhet, Nepal.
Why was BlinkNow named a finalist?
In addition to building the “greenest school in Nepal,” BlinkNow uses a place-based outdoor learning curriculum at Kopila Valley School and provides high-quality education to underserved children. Students have the option to join a number of nature and sustainability clubs.
Cooperating with the Surkhet community since 2007, BlinkNow set up a children’s home, women’s training center, health and wellness program, home for at-risk girls, and a career readiness program. These services are free of charge and show that people in impoverished regions deserve quality education and can also contribute real-world environmental solutions.
What is the mission behind BlinkNow?
Maggie Doyne, BlinkNow Co-Founder and CEO, says, “Our goal is to empower young people to become leaders in environmental education and conservation, and we are proud to see our students taking action to create a sustainable future for their families and communities.”
Food access is also a major part of BlinkNow’s programs. To remove barriers to student learning, Kopila Valley School provides a daily free healthy lunch program for students and staff. 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 lunch program comes from the campus garden or is sourced locally in alliance with a PGS (Participatory Guarantee System) farmers’ group. The GESS Awards reward the quality and diversity of educational products, resources, services and people as well as the best educational establishments and most dedicated members of the teaching profession.
For more information about BlinkNow, please visit the website.
