BLINKNOW FOUNDATION A NJ NONPROFIT

THE KOPILA VALLEY CHILDREN'S HOME, LOCATED IN SURKHET, NEPAL, HAS BEEN HOME TO 86 CHILDREN. THIS YEAR, WE WELCOMED 7 NEW KIDS INTO OUR HOME AND TRANSITIONED 9 OUT TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY WITH OUR SUPPORT. THERE ARE NOW 49 CHILDREN RESIDING IN THE HOME. A TOTAL OF 37 YOUNG ADULTS HAVE "GRADUATED" FROM THE HOME. OF THESE, 21 HAVE COMPLETED THEIR UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION AND ARE EITHER ENROLLED OR IN THE PROCESS OF ENROLLING IN UNIVERSITIES. FOUR YOUNG ADULTS FROM THE HOME ARE STUDYING OVERSEAS OR HAVE GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITIES ABROAD. THE CHILDREN ARE PROVIDED WITH A SAFE AND LOVING ENVIRONMENT AND ARE CARED FOR AS A FAMILY. OUR ADDITIONAL HOSTEL, THE BIG SISTERS' HOME, PROVIDES A SAFE HAVEN FOR AT-RISK YOUTH GIRLS WHO ATTEND KOPILA VALLEY SCHOOL. WE HAD 8 YOUNG WOMEN IN OUR CARE THIS YEAR. WE PRIORITIZE REINTEGRATION AND FAMILY HEALING WHERE IT IS APPROPRIATE AND SAFE; BETWEEN 2022 AND DECEMBER 2023, 6 GIRLS WERE REINTEGRATED WITH THEIR FAMILIES. WE BEGAN CONSTRUCTION ON A NEW CHILDREN'S HOME IN 2023 ON LAND ADJACENT TO OUR KOPILA VALLEY SCHOOL CAMPUS.

THE KOPILA VALLEY SCHOOL (KVS) IN SURKHET, NEPAL, SERVES 427 STUDENTS FROM NURSERY TO 12TH GRADE, INCLUDING A MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR CLASSES 11 AND 12. KVS PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION IN MATH, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING, AND COMPUTER SKILLS. ENRICHMENTS INCLUDE ART AND MUSIC PROGRAMS AS WELL AS NUMEROUS CLUBS AND SPORTS. KOPILA HAS EARNED A REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE REGION BASED ON NATIONAL TEST SCORES AND STUDENT PERFORMANCE. THE SCHOOL STRIVES TO CREATE A WARM, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS, SERVING NUTRITIOUS SNACKS AND LUNCHES SOURCED LOCALLY AND FROM OUR ORGANIC FARM, AND PROVIDING MEDICAL AND COUNSELING SERVICES. BLINKNOW ALSO SUPPORTS THE EDUCATION OF RECENT KVS GRADUATES WHO ATTEND 11TH AND 12TH GRADE "PLUS TWO" PROGRAMS AT SCHOOLS IN THE COMMUNITY. KOPILA VALLEY SCHOOL HAS BEEN DEEMED "THE GREENEST SCHOOL IN NEPAL" DUE TO THE ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE AND EARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT SCHOOL CAMPUS AND PLACE-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING PROGRAM. THE CAMPUS INCLUDES AN ANIMAL FARM, AN ORGANIC FOOD GARDEN, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS THAT ARE INCORPORATED INTO LESSONS, INCLUDING SOLAR ENERGY, BIOGAS, RAINWATER HARVESTING, AQUAPONICS, AND GRAY AND BLACKWATER TREATMENT. PEDAGOGICALLY, THE CURRICULUM AT KVS FOCUSES ON PLACE-BASED LEARNING, AN APPROACH THAT INVOLVES STUDENTS IN LOCAL HERITAGE, CULTURES, LANDSCAPES, AND EXPERIENCES, TYING INTO OUR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS AND VALUES. WE KNOW THAT STUDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IF THEY HAVE SUPPORT AT HOME. OUR INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED PROGRAM FOR ALL GUARDIANS OF NEW STUDENTS AIMS TO DEVELOP THESE RELATIONSHIPS AND PROVIDE TOOLS FOR CREATING POSITIVE HOME SUPPORT. THE PROGRAM ORIENTS NEW FAMILIES AND COVERS TOPICS LIKE PROMOTING DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIOR THROUGH POSITIVE ATTENTION AND PLAY, EFFECTS OF HOUSEHOLD VIOLENCE AND STRESS ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT, WAYS OF DECREASING PARENTAL STRESS AND ANGER, EMPATHETIC COMMUNICATION SKILLS, NON-VIOLENT DISCIPLINE STRATEGIES, FAMILY FINANCES AND BUDGETING, AND NUTRITION AND HEALTH.