Tag Archives: nepal

STF in Nepal: Teaching the Kids to Create Films

Did we tell you the Kopila Kids are also budding filmmakers?

With school back in full swing, it was time for Britt and I to jump head-first into our role as teachers at Kopila Valley. Since we were going to be spending so much time filming the students and the school, we decided to switch gears and put the kids behind the camera for a documentary video workshop!

Armed with five donated Flipcams (thanks to Brittany’s family!), we kicked off two days of hands-on workshops with the 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-graders. First, we held a group discussion on the basics of a documentary, and the kinds of things the students would want to document. It was fascinating to learn about the subjects they were interested in — we talked about everything from their soccer team and their teachers to more serious topics like arranged marriages. We then ran a practice interview exercise to get them asking the right questions, a task that conjured some serious giggles but also some serious reporting right off the bat. Then it was time to split into groups and start producing films!

Each group decided on a topic they could tackle within the school’s gates, and after a quick course in Flipcam basics we sent them out of the classroom with a camera, a checklist, and one hour to make a movie!

The kids had a blast interviewing each other and the staff and volunteers and getting B-roll shots of their subjects. They set scenes, tracked down the teachers who were experts on their topics, asked tough questions, and continued to giggle a lot as they interviewed each other for the first time on camera.

After the hour was up, we collected the cameras. We couldn’t wait to see what the kids had come up with! With some quick editing by Britt and myself over the next few days, the films were ready for Kopila Valley’s first-ever documentary film screening!

Everyone laughed, applauded, and cheered on their classmates as we watched their videos together in the school’s computer lab. Already, the kids were ready to talk about what they learned and how they could improve for the next round. We hear whisperings that a Kopila Valley news team will be emerging in the very near future, and I personally can’t wait to see what they churn out next!

Want to see the results? Here are a few of our favorites – and trust me, it was pretty darn tough to choose!

And we even taught the boys, too! ;)

(Photos by the fantastic Brittany Brothers and Benjamin Heiber. Videos by the uber-talented Kopila Kids, of course.)

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STF in Nepal: Shopping for Kurta Surwals

Kopila Valley took a holiday from school on the day after Christmas to recover from their big Annual Day performance, so Britt and I took advantage of the break to see the town and experience Nepali culture. The girls were impressed that we wore traditional Nepali dress (kurta surwals) on Annual Day, so we thought it was time to get our own. With the help of Hima, one of the fantastic girls we sponsor, and some of the Kopila Fellows, we set off to the market to pick out some fabric.

We were overwhelmed by walls and walls of fabric choices, but Hima stepped in to translate and help us choose (and took over as photographer – she might have a career there!).

After we made our final picks, and found matching shawls, we went for the girls’ favorite snack – chaat, which is a mixture of potatoes, chickpeas, onion, tomatoes, and a heavenly array of spices. So. Good.

The next step was a trip to the tailor to get measured for our kurta surwals to be made.

A few days later, and the results are in! The girls are incredibly impressed. Even though my hair is a bit too blonde, they think we rock the Nepali fashion. I’ve also been taught the multiple ways to wear the shawl. I’m a bit of a scarf fiend in the U.S., but these were all new to me!

How do we look?!

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STF in Nepal: A School Day at Kopila Valley

After all the Christmas festivities — and a day of vacation for the students to recover from the big show (we went shopping with Hima; look for that post next!), we finally got to experience our first full school day in Nepal.

As soon as you step inside the gates of Kopila Valley, the world gets just a little bit happier (arguably, the kids and the baby chicks on the walk there help with the lead-up). The students and teachers alike couldn’t be more welcoming. I’m likely to start greeting people in my office with “Namaste” when I return to the States, guaranteed.

Each grade has their own homeroom, and the halls are plastered with artwork, stories, paper snowflakes – you name it. These kids are on top of their decorations. (Remember that Annual Day stage? They did that too.) The students definitely take ownership of their school, and are incredibly proud to show it off.

The classrooms surround the Kopila Valley Organic Garden — just another shining example of the kids’ accomplishments. The students are broken up into houses, Hogwarts-style, and each house has control of a plot of the garden. They compete against each other, with the help of their “Aunties” (the incredible women behind the scenes at KV, who help teach and raise the kids), to see who can produce the best crop. I can’t say I have enough of a green thumb to tell you who is winning, but the whole thing is pretty darn beautiful. The garden is a large provider of food for lunch at the school, and a great way for the students to learn about sustainability.

We caught some of the girls we sponsor in class, all smiles, of course. Here’s Jarana, who’s in Class 4:

And Sarita, also in Class 4:

And Parbati, a kindergartner. We know — we love her hair, too:

Finally, here’s Anusa, Class 2, seriously concentrating on her lesson:

The school bell rings at 4 p.m., but the students stay for hours afterward, playing sports and hanging out with their friends and the staff. Here’s Swastika (left), a kindergartner, playing musical chairs.

Soccer practice is always half giggles, half serious competition, with a heck of a lot of skill. Suscila, pictured here, is particularly great:

Around dusk, the Kopila kids finally head home. We’re a small amount of exhausted, but we can’t wait to be back for day two. We’re also teaching a video workshop with the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades this week — stay tuned to find out how it goes, and to see the films the kids make!

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Merry Christmas from Nepal!

This Christmas, Brittany Brothers (STF Videographer extraordinaire) and I (your trusty Penpal Coordinator) are spending the holidays in Surkhet, Nepal, with our fantastic partner school Kopila Valley.

Brittany and Brianne with Hima in front of the Kopila Valley School

Best Christmas Ever? That would be a bit of an understatement.

The kids at Kopila Valley celebrate and learn about holidays from all cultures and religions, but Christmas is clearly a school-wide favorite. And not only is December 25th a day for Christmas trees and carols about Santa Claus (they know all of them!), but it also marks the anniversary of the school’s founding and the much-anticipated Kopila Valley Annual Day Celebration!

A crowd gathers for the Annual Day celebration!

The Kopila Kids pulled out all the stops for their school’s third birthday, putting on a four-hour performance full of songs, dancing, drama – even a flashmob-style Black Eyed Peas number! These kids are crazy talented, and man, do they know how to put on a show. Check out the photos below for some stellar appearances by the girls we sponsor – we were blown away!

And then, for the most incredible Christmas surprise yet, the Kopila Kids found out they are getting their very own school bus!

*Note: This is not the actual bus.

After Annual Day, we headed back to the house for a Momo dinner party (a Nepali dumpling, and the kids’ all-time favorite food), and then gathered around the Christmas tree for what has to be the most wonderful and hilarious gift-opening sequence we have ever experienced. The kids each picked a name for their Secret Santa earlier in the week, and had a blast watching each other open the gifts they had gotten. Britt and I even got our very first Mango juice boxes!

Christmas in Nepal!

Talk about an incredible welcome to Nepal! Now we’re ready for a week of filming, teaching, and hanging out with the girls we sponsor. Stay tuned; there’s more to come!

(Photos courtesy of Brittany Brothers and Kopila Valley Fellow Benjamin Heiber)

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A New School Year and New Surprises at Kopila Valley!

Kopila Valley students Goma, Kalpana, and Ganga smile for the camera!

Kopila Valley students Goma, Kalpana, and Ganga smile for the camera!

Although the new school year started just slightly over a month ago for students at Kopila Valley Children’s Home in Surkhet, Nepal, the school has been filled with a flurry of activities! The “newest little kopilas” – as they’re affectionately called by the school’s founder, Maggie Doyne – are enjoying classes, playtime and making new friends. Seven new teachers also joined the school and big plans are on the horizon for Kopila Valley’s school and health clinic!

Though the school grounds are filled with lots of smiles and back-to-school excitement, Kopila Valley has been dealing with water shortages and no electricity or Internet as Nepal worked to meet its May 27th deadline to finalize the country’s new constitution. According to Maggie, this left the school, and country, in shutdown mode. During Kopila Valley’s first full school week, the country was facing several days of political strike, meaning several days of school not being in session. Though the well has been a saving grace for everyone at the school, keeping so many children occupied for days of extreme heat and no power has proven to be quite a challenge. The students distracted themselves with an ultimate Frisbee match, scavenger hunts, singing during music month and of course, schoolwork.

As if all of this activity wasn’t enough, Kopila Valley made a huge announcement in mid-May. After years of searching, the school finally purchased their dream plot of land for the future and permanent site of Kopila Valley School! Tucked in a valley amidst fruit trees and fertile land, Surkhet’s first sacred temple, and a farmhouse, the location is perfect. The new construction will allow Kopila Valley to expand and offer 9th and 10th grade. In her blog post, Maggie writes, “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us and a lot of big dreams for the future . . . I am so excited for Kopila Valley and honored that I get to keep living my dream each day, doing what I love and bearing witness to the children blooming before my very eyes.”

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Community Service at Kopila Valley

Students from Siddha Bahira practice sign language with Kopila Valley

Last month was community service month at the Kopila Valley Children’s Home in Nepal.  Within the first week of the service celebration, the students had already cleaned litter from a local park, visited and gave gifts to hospital patients and cleaned the city’s iconic Deuti Bajay temple.  Their good work was featured on the front page of the local newspaper as well as on national Nepali television!

On February 3rd, children from Siddha Bahira, a local school for deaf students, visited Kopila Valley. No talking was needed to play games, share a meal, or face-off in a soccer match. After Siddha Bahira’s chairman taught the Kopila Valley students basic sign language, the students divided into different classrooms to practice together.

As the week drew to a close, the students at Kopila celebrated Sabita’s birthday and helped out with the construction of the school’s new science and computer lab. Despite all of this exciting activity, Maggie, the school’s founder, writes that things are quiet and happy at Kopila Valley. However, she warns to tuned because some “big dreams are brewing!”

To read more about day-to-day life at Kopila Valley, visit Maggie’s blog.

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“The More That You Learn, the More Places You’ll Go!”

Students at the Kibera School for Girls at reading time

Students at the Kibera School for Girls love reading time!

When I asked the directors of our She’s the First partner schools which books their students liked to read, I had no idea that I’d find myself saying, “That was my favorite book! I remember that one . . . and that one too!” I never would’ve guessed that young students in Nepal and Kenya love Charlotte’s Web or Ella Enchanted as much as I did in elementary school. What I wasn’t surprised by was the students’ absolute love of reading.

At the Kibera School for Girls in Kenya, all students have time set aside everyday for reading. Girls in 1st-3rd grade enjoy daily reading time in either the classroom or in the library.  The students also take turns reading aloud to the entire class. Some of their favorites are the Amelia Bedelia series and Frog and Toad. The pre-K and Kindergarten students love to listen to their teachers read Miss Wishy Washy and Elmo books. They also have plenty of time to practice their reading and look through colorful picture books.

Libby Doyne and Kopila Valley’s English teacher wrote that their students “can often be seen with their noses in a book at recess!” Even though the students read at the library everyday, they can’t get enough of their new favorite book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.  Their teacher said, “They even yell out to read faster when time is running out because they want to find out what happens before the bell rings.”  Some of the students even take the book home to read it again and again.  A few times a year, older students help teach their younger reading buddy.

These stories reminded me of Dr. Seuss’ quip, “The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go!” In writing this post, I was amazed to learn just how far my favorite childhood stories have traveled. Years ago, my friends and I used to giggle over Shel Silverstein’s silly poem “Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too.”  Now, girls in Nepal are pouring through this same book, maybe even smiling over the same lines I did.  The joy that I found, and that you found too, in learning to read is the joy that our young generation of girls is discovering right now.  From the lines of #VoiceYourVerse poetry to a poem nestled in the well-worn pages of Where the Sidewalk Ends, you, me, and young girls thousands of miles away are united by the joy of learning.

Kopila Valley students' favorite new book!

Kopila Valley students' favorite new book!

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It Takes a Village: Nepal and Kenya

 

Marty working with the children at the Kibera School for Girls

Marty working with the children at the Kibera School for Girls

 

 

As I read about the ongoing activities of our She’s the First partner schools, I’m reminded of the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” I originally imagined this saying applying to the school founders, board members, teachers, community supporters, and students living and working in Nepal, Kenya, Ethiopia – wherever our partner schools do the incredible work they do! However, I’m noticing a trend that gives new meaning to this phrase. The “village” I originally conceived isn’t limited to local boundaries or lines on a map; it spans the globe! Everyday, I read about the relationships that our partner school founders foster with family and friends their homes in the United States.

Jessica Posner, cofounder of Shining Hope, was recently joined by her former middle school principal, Marty Caplan, in Kenya.  After reading about Jessica’s work with the Kibera School for Girls, Marty and his wife Arna volunteered their combined 70 years of teaching experience to develop math curriculum for Kibera’s girls!  Marty secured new “Math in Focus” curriculum for the students and is also developing a reading recovery program. He and his wife have been training teachers in Kibera for the past two weeks! The couple said, “We have fallen in love with the Kibera community. The teachers are bright and very receptive to learning new methods. The children are so impressive. Working with them cannot help but make us smile.”

Maggie Doyne, founder of Kopila Valley Children’s Home in Nepal, is constantly updating her blog with visits from family and friends.  For four months, Maggie’s cousin Julia worked and lived side-by-side with the students.  Her mother and father have devoted so much love and attention to the kids of Kopila Valley as well. Maggie’s uncle Ed worked for three months as “Mr. Fix-it” at the school. The children know Maggie’s sisters, aunts, and other close family members.

These are just a few of the countless examples of “villages” that transcend classroom walls or city gates.  She’s the First is part of these growing villages too! Together, we form an intricate network of support and love; we’re committed to raising a generation of girls who are the first in their own village to share a gift that keeps on giving – an education.

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Guess What’s Happening at Kopila Valley!

Celebration room

The room is packed at Kopila Valley's anniversary celebration!

As our blog readers know, we’re all about the “firsts” here. However, today I’m writing about a “second” that She’s the First is thrilled to share.  On Christmas Day, Kopila Valley School celebrated its second anniversary! A beautiful celebration filled with butterfly songs, bird dances, colorful streamers and balloons, the students and supporters in Nepal gathered round to commend the wonderful work of Kopila Valley.  The highlight of the ceremony was a moving speech by Deepa Nepail, a young student who is filled with strength, courage, and grace.  Over the summer, Deepa was diagnosed with advanced lupus.  Despite her diagnosis, Deepa attends school daily and shines brightly at Kopila Valley.  In her speech, Deepa reflected on the blessings that Kopila Valley brings and the hard work of her peers.  She finished her speech with this note, “We Kopila children feel lucky that we get this amazing opportunity to study in this school.  We love our school and we are soooo proud of it.  We are the Kopila Children and we are blooming like flowers!!!”  Maggie Doyne, the school’s founder, shared Deepa’s speech in its entirety on her blog here.

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Educating Girls Crucial as World Passes 7 Billion & More

Empowering Girls and Women Crucial as World Passes 7 Billion Mark
As the world population grows to seven billion, empowering girls and women is more important than ever according to a report by the United Nations Population Fund. One theory to reduce population growth is to increase education and healthcare for girls and women, which leads to decreased birth rates. In heavily populated countries like the Philippines, where the poorest women give birth to six or seven children, investing in education may serve as a powerful tool in slowing growth. Read more here.

First Female Head Trainer Named in U.S. Pro Sports
The first female head trainer in the history of major U.S. professional sports has been named. Sue Falsone was recently hired as the Los Angeles Dodgers head athletic trainer. In an arena highly dominated by men, this historic decision is sure to break the glass ceiling. Read more here.

Child Marriage Burdens Young Girls in Nepal
While the child marriage rate in Nepal is dropping, the practice is still common among poor families living in rural communities. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 51 percent of Nepalese marry as children. As more than half the population lives on less than $1.25 a day, many families cannot afford to send their children to school ands girls marry young as a result. Increasing education in Nepal, especially for girls, will help prevent this trend. Read more here.

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What Can a Cupcake Do? Let Us Tell You!

Fun with Footprints at the Kibera School for Girls

Fun with footprints at the Kibera School for Girls!

This week, the famous She’s the First cupcakes will be tasted ‘round the nation. As many of us, myself included (!) prepared for a week of colorful cupcakes, maybe you found yourself being asked by your peers, “Why cupcakes? Why girls’ education?” As a researcher for She’s the First, I hope to show you just how much your cupcakes can do by sharing with you some updates from our partner schools.

At the Selamta Family Project in Ethiopia, the ten girls that started a small business have closed up shop temporarily for the school year. However, they had a booming hair braiding business throughout the summer and plan on reopening during summer break! The students began the school year by celebrating the Ethiopian New Year and are now in the full swing of school. A week ago, She’s the First*{Pitt} hosted a fashion show and raised enough to sponsor a girl at Selamta. Congrats Pitt!

Between a morning adventure to Kahkre Vihar, visits from Maggie’s uncle and cousin, birthday parties for Birendra and Madan, and of course lots of studies and learning, Kopila Valley Children’s Home in Nepal is also buzzing with activity! Other exciting news is that there is 99% chance Kopila Valley will soon have its very own well. For more information on this phenomenal story, read on here. To continue the good news, Kopila Valley is featured on the new documentary Opening Our Eyes: The Movie. More congratulations are in order! Watch the trailer here.

And now on to the Kibera School for Girls – also a burst of sunshine in my updates. A new microfinance group, comprised of KSG mothers, is flourishing. If you’re interested in the budding businesses, read on here. The girls have also been immersed in a “My Body” science class and are having lots of fun learning about footprints. The Kibera School was also featured in the New York Times last month in Nicholas Kristof’s article “Just Look at What You Did!” This article is a must-read!

So, can we use these little cupcake treats to make a world of difference? Of course! Our directory schools are doing absolutely incredible things; one cupcake at a time, we can spread the sweetness!

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Buy a Bracelet and Support Girls in Guatemala and Nepal!

With our second birthday and Tie-Dye Cupcake Campaign both happening this week, there’s a lot happening at STF headquarters. But we’re also excited to announce that this year, proceeds from Asha Patel’s She’s the First bracelet will be supporting girls’ sponsorships in Guatemala and Nepal!

Whether you’re looking for the gift that gives back or for a stylist way to show your support, check it out here and help us sponsor girls in the developing world.

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How a Cupcake Changed My Life — and Hers

the original poster!

I have a bright pink poster hanging in my Notre Dame dorm room that reads “She’s the First: Tie-Dye Cupcake Sale September 15, 2010 Help us send a girl to school in the developing world!” At the time, little did I know, this “girl” would quickly turn into three, and before I knew it, I’d be on a plane to spend my summer in Nepal.

A few days before I left for my trip to Kopila Valley School, I received a little envelope in the mail. Inside was a crumpled note from one of the girls my Notre Dame soccer team and I sponsor, Hima Tamata.

This is Hima at age 7

The note read, “Dear Lindsay, you are so nice. I love you. Lindsay and Hima are best friends.” To say it made my day would be an understatement. When I made it to Kopila Valley I couldn’t wait to finally meet Hima, the girl I had been following on Maggie Doyne’s blog for months, and tell her how thankful I was for that note. But before I could get a word out, Hima walked up to me and starting singing, “let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.” At first I had no idea what she was referring to considering it was around 90 degrees in Surkhet everyday. Then Hima pulled out the Christmas card that my Notre Dame friends and I sent her back in December. She had saved it in a plastic bag in the front pocket of her backpack. When you open the card it plays a Christmas carol. Hima had memorized the song and had even memorized the note I had written inside. She named each of the girls that had signed the card and asked, “Are these all my friends in America?” Hima’s eyes got so big when I replied yes. All she could say back was “oh ma gawd.”

As I spent more and more time with Hima I began to understand how one little girl could inspire a person like Maggie to build an entire children’s home and school. When I was with Hima I would forget how much she’s been through. She’s such a happy, energetic, carefree young girl. I really don’t think there’s a word to perfectly describe her.

Lindsay and Hima at Kopila Valley School

She still has a long way to go — she’s 12 years old and in the second grade but that doesn’t seem to defeat her in any way.  She has this “silent self-confidence” about her that I believe will get her to the places she wants to go in life.

Above all, Hima has the biggest heart of anyone I know. I gave her a journal the first day we met so we could continue to write notes to each other once I went home. A few days before I left Hima pulled out the journal and gave me 8 notes, one for each of the girls that signed the Christmas card. Each said something like “Dear Maddie, I love you. My name is Hima. I read in 2 class. My mom breaks rock. You are my best friend. Hima loves Maddie.” I read through each of the following notes addressed to Courtney, Melissa, Jordan, and a couple other girls but I stopped when I got to the last one, it read, “Dear Dreams.” I couldn’t figure it out at first but then I realized the last sentence I had written in the card was “Follow your dreams!”

Hima

Hima was confused and thought that “Dreams” was one of her friends in America. I was about to break it to her that “Dreams” really isn’t a person, but then she turned to me and said, “I am so lucky to have 9 friends in America. I work hard in school so one day I come visit and I see Dreams.” After taking a second to think about it, I decided maybe Hima is on to something after all. Right now her friend “Dreams” might not exist, but Hima’s right: If she continues to work hard in school, one day “Dreams” will be true.

Now when I look at that bright pink poster in my dorm I can’t help but smile. I’ve surrounded it with several pictures of happy Kopila girls. I always think about how crazy it is that something as simple as cupcake can make such a profound change in a girl’s life half way around the world. But what I’m starting to realize is that the same cupcake has made such a profound change in my own life. Getting to know Maggie, Hima, and all the other Kopila girls over the past year has shown me that we may be young, but together we really do have the power to make a difference in this big world. That’s what I love about She’s the First — we set out to empower girls around the world without realizing we are empowering ourselves.

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The Tie-Dye Cupcake that Started it All

Who would’ve guessed that a tiny, brightly colored cupcake would be able to make the lives of girls in Nepal a little sweeter? Along with some sugar, flour, and eggs, Lindsey Brown mixed determination, passion, and creativity to create a life-changing recipe.  Last year, Lindsey, then a sophomore at Notre Dame, wrote to She’s the First asking how she could help. Inspired by the New York Times Magazine piece on Maggie Doyne, founder of the Kopila Valley Children’s Home & School, Lindsey was driven to action. Her fundraising efforts came in the form of the now iconic She’s the First tie-dyed cupcakes. After her NCAA champion soccer teammates joined her efforts, their cupcake sales raised nearly $1,000!

The cupcake that started it all

Lindsey’s cupcake-filled journey with She’s the First began small – selling the small treats out of her dorm room.  Now, she’s busy baking the cupcakes with the students at Kopila Valley in Nepal!  A few weeks ago, Lindsey traveled to Nepal to visit the school that she has dedicated the past two years to supporting.  During her trip, Lindsey whipped up a batch of her famous cupcakes to celebrate two of the young girls’ birthdays.  As Lindsey wrote on her Tumblr, “My friend Maddie Fox and I always joke that we’re saving the world one cupcake at a time.  But, after coming here and meeting the three girls that my team sponsors, I’m starting to think it might not be a joke after all.”

Because of her team’s creative fundraising efforts, Lindsey launched a cupcake coalition that’s taking over the nation. From New York City to Rome, She’s the First*{Campus} chapters will be hosting cupcake sales in support of girls’ education.  Lindsey certainly created a recipe for sweet success! Like the young students they’ve sponsored, She’s the First*{Notre Dame}’s cupcakes have proven that big change can come in small packages.

Do you want to join our first national bake sale? Let us know by signing up at shesthefirst.org/cupcakes!

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She’s the First*{Notre Dame} Goes Global!

Chapter Members Monica Townsend (2012), Lindsay Brown (2013), Maddie Fox (2013), Casey Kraft (2012)

Between Casey Kraft’s recent departure to volunteer in Peru and Monica Townsend’s return from Shanti Bhavan in India, our She’s the First*{Notre Dame} chapter has gone globe-trotting this summer!  Now, one more of their members joins our world traveling roster.  This week, Lindsay Brown, a sophomore at Notre Dame, arrived in Nepal to visit our partner school, the Kopila Valley Children’s Home.

As a member of the She’s the First*{Notre Dame}, Lindsay represented She’s the First at the Clinton Global Initiative University.  She is also one of the creators of the now iconic She’s the First tie-dyed cupcakes. As a national soccer champ, Lindsey and her Notre Dame teammates also sponsor three girls at Kopila Valley.  Lindsay is a star both on and off the field!

Make sure to check the Kopila Valley blog to see how Lindsay’s soccer team, “The Sagarmatha,” (Mt. Everest in Nepalese) does during her stay!

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Kopila Valley Wins Prestigious Award!

She’s the First is honored to congratulate its latest first!  The Kopila Valley Children’s Home in Nepal is our first partner school to be awarded the 2011 Norman Borlaug Humanitarian Award.  This award, named for Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Norman Borlaug, is given annually to humanitarians committed to changing the world.  In addition to this outstanding honor, Maggie was awarded a $100,000 contribution from MedAssets.

Maggie has already been named 2009’s Do Something! Grand Prize Winner, CosmoGirl of the Year, and has been featured in the New York Times’ Magazine.  Now, one more tremendous award can be added to the growing list of the Kopila Valley’s supporters!

Even though she was in Las Vegas to accept the awards, Maggie still made time to say goodnight to the Kopila Valley children over skype.  Between celebrating two birthdays and welcoming new students into the start of the new school year, it goes without saying that Maggie and the Kopila team stays busy!  To read more about the honors, adventures, and new students of Kopila, check out Maggie’s blog.

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Selling Her American Girl Dolls & Sponsoring a Nepali Girl

Mackenzie at her yard sale!

As we count down nine days to our GIRLS WHO ROCK benefit concert, the Twitter buzz builds, tickets are selling, the emails fire away…but as on-track as our plans may be, there’s always going to be a little stress. You know what melts all worries away? Reminders that She’s the First strikes a chord with young women and drives them to take their own action for girls around the world. The latest evidence comes from the blog of 13-year-old Mackenzie Olson, who we first wrote about when she collected change in her community to sponsor a girl in Maggie Doyne’s Kopila Valley Children’s Home.

Mackenzie was back in action to finish the $200 she needed for her sponsorship, by hosting an “All Things Girly” yard sale, selling old childhood toys. We congratulate Mackenzie on her success and hope you do too. She’s a shining star! In her blog, she writes:

“There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few that will catch your heart. Pursue these.” Michael Nolan’s words are so true and She’s the First http://www.shesthefirst.org/ has truly captured my heart. She’s the First is a grassroots campaign that helps to enable girls in developing nations to have a better future with an education thru their online directory of schools with sponsorship programs.

We in America take for granted our public education, while in developing nations some girls never have the option to attend school. With an education these girls can overcome poverty, grow up to be leaders and better their world. With our help a young girl may in turn become the first in her family to graduate, the first female president of her country or even the first to discover a life saving drug. It’s possible that She’s the First but only with our help and every girl deserves the chance to be the first!

My personal mission is to help a young girl in Nepal who is living in the Kopila Valley Children’s Home. In 2007, Maggie Doyne of Mendham, New Jersey started construction on the Kopila home, in the town of Surkhet, that she built on a piece of land bought with $5,000 she had saved babysitting during high school. The vision of the home is to “sustain and improve the quality of life and the future for children of Nepal.”

How was I going to raise the money to see my mission through was my next question. With a little help from my mom, we came up with a project “Pocket Change for Change.” I figured we all have a little spare change jiggling in our pockets so why not put some collection boxes in local businesses. My good friends at Red Carpet Prom and Pageant allowed me to put one of my boxes at their register during Prom season. Wireless Electronics had one at their Berlin location and thanks to a special supporter, Janet Shaw, Kabuki Salon also had a box on display.

However, I had not raised enough money so I put my thinking cap on and decided to have a charity yard sale. “All Things Girly” was a huge success and I was excited to have my mentor, Kaitlin Davis drop by. Although I was sad to see all my American Girl dolls and clothes go I was happy to know that the money was going to a good cause.

I am proud to say that with the help from my “own village” and complete strangers I have raised enough money to start my sponsorship. I can’t wait to see who my new friend will be and start writing back and forth with her. My hope is to continue to sponsor her year after year helping this young girl become and educated young women.

By the way, I am the first in my family to speak German!

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Durga Sunar

 

Meet Durga Sunar, a 4th grader at the Koplila Valley School in Nepal.

She is 9 years old and the first in her family to go to school! Durga’s favorite subject is English and she wants to be a teacher when she grows up. She also loves skipping rope, and her favorite color is yellow.

Durga was sponsored in 2011 by Katie Russell, an 8-year-old who donated her birthday party to girls’ education! She is currently being sponsored in 2012 by STF*{St. Thomas Aquinas High School}.

 
If you want to leave Durga a message, you can comment below. We’ll collect them and send them to her, and update here when she writes back.

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Mina Giri

Mina is in the first grade at Kopila Valley. She is 7 years old and lives with her mom and brother. Her favorite color is pink, she loves mangos, and she wants to be a teacher when she grows up. Mina also plays on the football (US soccer) team at Kopila!

Mina was sponsored in 2011 by the Tie-dye Cupcake Bake-off and is currently being sponsored in 2012 by the STF*{Hofstra} Dance-A-Thon.

If you want to leave Mina a message, you can comment below. We’ll collect them and send them to her, and update here when she writes back.

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Susila Sunar

Susila Sunar is in the fourth grade at Kopila Valley. She’s also one of the three girls sponsored by the original tie-dye cupcake sale at Notre Dame!

Susila is 13 years old and lives with her aunt, uncle, and grandmother. Her favorite colors are green and blue, and she wants to learn English and become a teacher when she grows up. Susila is also the goal keeper on the Kopila Valley Girls Soccer Team!

 

If you want to leave Susila a message, you can comment below. We’ll collect them and send them to her, and update here when she writes back.

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