32 Laptops
Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at 06:35AM 
Kesav, Naveen, Janak, Tope, Maggie
Today September 4, 2012 The Government of Nepal and The Ministry of Education awarded Kopila Valley School custody of 32 refurbished and donated laptops and our luggage from last year. The laptops were a donation from our friends at The Peck School and we are thrilled that they have been returned to the Kopila students. We want to thank everyone who helped us with the legal proceedings that took place over the past 15 months to make this happen. There were lots of special people who took interest in our case and worked hard to make this happen. Personally I have learned a lot of lessons and grown tremendously through this experience. Now I'm excited and ready to move on to the next chapter... Kopila Valley's first ever computer lab and lessons for our students! This is a dream come true for all of us.
maggie doyne
Kopila Valley did not pay ANY bribes or participate in illegal activity of any kind. We played by the rules and went through the legal dealings and processes as stated by the law.
Reader Comments (20)
This is brilliant news! Well done all! I hope that not too many palms had to be crossed with silver.
I don't know if dust getting into the electronics is a problem in your part of the world - it was a serious issue for me in India. Do you have a reasonably clean room for them? Do you have desks and chairs and headphones etc? What about a competent teacher? Will the batteries be up to it? I'm assuming your electricity suppy will be reliable enough now that you have a generator, but what about electrical noise and voltage surges (the kind you don't see in the US) ? And the voltages - will the laptops be compatible with 230V?? Networks and Internet...
You're going to need some good support to get this lot up and running - I hope people step forward with help.
I would really like to hear about the hoops you had to jump through to get the gear into the country (if you ever get the time to tell us!) Was it all worth it?
Best wishes, Clive
I am always with you and was SO happy to hear that after 15 months...What a terrific ending to that chapter. We send love from Cape Cod.
Yeah - so excited - finally a computer lab at Kopila Valley!!! - so proud of you for not paying any bribes and getting all the equipment in through all legal channels - Can't wait to see you when you get home to Mendham
Maggie,
Congratulations! It is a joy to see how this issue turned out in such a positive way. Your comment "Personally I have learned a lot of lessons and grown tremendously through this experience." was so revealing of who you are. And that too is as joyful as 32 new computers!
Your humility with an ongoing willingness to learn, positive spirit, graciousness, appreciation for others contributions, patience and tenacity are things I truly admire in you. Have lots of fun (and I'm sure there will be a few good stories) setting up the computer lab. Hope you celebrate at Fire and Ice with a delicious pizza before you leave Kathmandu. Safe travels home with your six suitcases filled with computers to 40 healthy children who await your return!
Blessings,
You are my inspiration. I really gone to surkhet to visit Kopila Valley Children's home. But with limited time I couldnot. You being the foreigner is doing so much for our country. Thank you for that. I will truely devoted myself in the welfare of the people especially the children. Its my promise. And congratulation for the success and good luck for the future.
Absolutely reasonable although not fast: they took the right decision.
The mimic expressions of the boys tell that the lap tops are really wellcome.The happiness of the children is the true compensation and their desire to learn. No money can buy this.
Woooo hoooo, That is fantastic news. I am so happy for Kopila School.
Congratulations Maggie & Tope for a job well done in the hundreds of hours you've both put into the recovery effort. The luggage looks great considering where it's been. Most of the power cords were in my carry on bag that wasn't confiscated. They are up on the shelf in the first floor bedroom across from your office. Why do I have the feeling that this wasn't the secret mission in KTM you mentioned?
A patient Scorpio? Tenacious - yes, big time!
YAAAY! Bout time! xox
AMAZING NEWS!
Hurrah! Big cheer!
Wonderful! I am so impressed with everyone who made this happen.
Great News Maggie. I teach computer technology to 550 kids here grades k-5. If you want any lesson ideas let me know!
Congratulation to you and Tope, a great achivement and so valuable for you and the kids.
Here comes the computing and internet freedom.
All the very best from London.
Love to all.
p.s. Tope- way to represent Cornell Athletics!! Love it!!
You all are amazing!!! Thanks for sharing in our excitement. @Hannah, I'll try to talk Tope into doing a semester at Cornell. xoxo
AWESOME!! I just did the Happy Dance!! Wonderful news.
This is incredible! I'd almost forgotten about these 32 laptops! I only wish I could come over and teach everyone Photoshop! x
Cuz! :) I'm a bit behind in the reading of the blog but this brought a huge smile to my face! I had forgot all about the case of the missing laptops. Awesome news! Very happy for you and the kids....The pictures are awesome!
Love and Miss you lots,
Margaret