Kopila Valley School in Surkhet, Nepal, has been named a finalist for the 2023 Zayed Sustainability Prize in the Global High Schools category for the second time. The prize recognizes excellence in sustainable development, and the finalists were selected for their innovative projects aimed at addressing environmental issues and empowering local communities. Two students and one staff member traveled to Abu Dhabi to attend the awards ceremony and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) youth forum during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in January.
The Kopila Valley students proposed a composting project, which involves researching different types of composting and teaching the technique to the broader community in Surkhet. Sustainability and environmental education are integrated into the curriculum at Kopila Valley School, with students receiving training in gardening, composting, and permaculture throughout their education. The project was created with the hope of inspiring the local community to work together to reduce organic waste that goes to landfills and to reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers and imported vegetables.
The Sustainability Week provided an opportunity for the students and educators to network with schools and organizations from around the world, sharing their passions and initiatives to solve problems at the grassroots level. The Sustainability Coordinator at Kopila Valley School, Sunita Bhandari, said that being named a finalist had inspired them to continue their sustainability efforts every day, putting sustainability at the heart of everything they do.
The BlinkNow Foundation is the non-profit organization behind Kopila Valley School, providing free education to marginalized students in the region. The foundation also offers community outreach programs aimed at reducing poverty, empowering women, improving health, and promoting sustainability and social justice. In addition to the school, the foundation runs a health and wellness program, a women's center, a home for at-risk students, a futures career readiness program, and an integrated sustainability program across all initiatives.
Surkhet