Young Catholic wins CNN’s 2015 Hero of the Year award

Nov 26, 2015

KATHMANDU: Maggie Doyne, a US Catholic woman who works with underprivileged Hindu children and women in Nepal, won CNN’s 2015 Hero of the Year award.

“All the credit goes to my children in Nepal,” she said, “and the Nepalis who welcomed me to their country. I hope and pray to the Almighty that Nepal will continue on the path of peace and that I will be able take care of children, and provide love and education.”

The New Jersey native Catholic woman visited Nepal for the first time in 2006. After witnessing the state of suffering that women and children faced in the civil war between the government and Maoist rebels, she decided to spend US$ 5,000 of her babysitting money to open a school for children. In turn, the award brought her US$ 110,000.

The Kopila Valley Children’s Home now houses 51 children and teaches nearly 350 students. It also has a health clinic and a women’s centre. She will receive $100,000 for BlinkNow—her non-profit organisa tion.

The young woman was picked from a list of ten finalists from CNN viewers.

“If you had told me when I turned 18 that I was going to be the mom of 50 kids, I would have told you that you were totally crazy. And I am,” Ms Doyne, in accepting the award, said.

Maggie Doyne also spoke about India’s unofficial embargo on Nepal for almost two months, which has led to fuel shortages. “My children in Surkhet are lining up for cooking gas,” she explained. “We are all suf fering. I just hope this award will also help raise awareness about Nepal’s situation at the international level.”

Five years ago, Doyne had trouble getting her visa renewed because the Chief District Officer told her, “I can’t recommend the extension of your visa because many people don’t want the growing Christian presence.”

“I told the officer that I had left everything to come here to help the children. I would like to stay on since I found my happiness and realised the presence of God in my dream to serve the needy people and commu nity.”

“The situation five years ago was such that the head office had to say those things,” said Sherdhan Rai, a spokesperson for the provincial governor. “Now we realise the need for Catholics who work for society and the needy, without offending other religions.”

Maiti Nepal founder Anuradha Koirala was the first Nepali to win the award in 2010, followed by Puspha Basnet, who provides a home and education to children of jailed parents, in 2012. -- Asianews/ BlinkNow