NAMLO International

History

Founded in 1999, Namlo International was started by Magda King, the first woman from Spain to reach the summit of an 8000m peak. In appreciation for the help she received from the Sherpa people during her expeditions, she wanted to give something back and chose education as the best gift.

To make that gift a reality, Magda traveled throughout the US, talking about her experiences as a climber and her dream of improving the lives of the Nepali people. Her presentations raised $10,000 in donations, enough at that time to build an elementary school. After spending 3 months in rural Nepal helping the community of Yarmasing build a school, she returned to Denver and co-founded Namlo International with her husband, Dr. Hugh King.

Based on their experiences in Nepal, Magda and Hugh saw that the key to success was helping communities take responsibility for their schools -- including participating in their construction, developing income generating projects to support their school, and working together to provide governance and support for good teaching and learning. Their goal was not just to build schools, but also to make them self-sustaining. They also saw an opportunity to connect American school children with Namlo schools, so that US students could experience the joy of making a difference.

They developed 5 interrelated programs to help empower communities to obtain the economic and social resources they need to keep their schools running smoothly, even after Namlo's 10-year commitment to each community expires. Those programs are: school construction, school improvement, sustainable community development, scholarships, and sister schools.

Namlo currently works with two communities in Nepal (Yarmasing and Dushkun) and two in Nicaragua (Los Pinares and Barrio Nuevo). A third Nicaraguan community (Miraflor) is scheduled to begin work on its Namlo-supported village school in October 2007.

Current Board of Directors for Namlo International 2006

Frank Zlogar (Board Chairman)

Frank W. Zlogar, Esq. has been practicing law in the Denver community for over twenty years. He is a member of the Denver and Colorado Bar Associations as well as a member of the employment, family law and litigation sections of the bar. Since 2002, Mr. Zlogar has been a volunteer in the Colorado Mock Trial program as an attorney coach with the John F. Kennedy High School in Denver.

Emi Ripoll-Bunn (Vice-Chairman)

Originally from Barcelona, Spain, Dr. Ripoll graduated from the University of Colorado with honors and received the Slater Award to the Most Dedicated Graduating Medical Student. During that time she was vice-president of the American Medical Student Organization-Colorado Chapter and the president of the Minority Student Organization. Also, she volunteered for the Indian Health Board Clinic in Denver, Colorado.

Dr. Ripoll matriculated to the Baylor College of Medicine to complete her residency in urology and a fellowship in urological oncology. She is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, Medical Honor Socienty. She acted as the secretary treasurer for the Society of Women in Urology and is now in private practice in Boulder, Colorado.

She has two adopted children from China and believes every child deserves a chance. That is why she wants to make a difference and joined Namlo.

Hugh King (Board Secretary)

Hugh King has worked as a systems engineer at Bell Laboratories, as a computer consultant, practiced clinical medicine and for the last twelve years has taught mathematics, computer science, electrical engineering and biology courses at the Colorado School of Mines. He has a BS degree from Iowa State University, an MS degree from the Courant Institute of New York University, a PhD degree from the University of Colorado at Denver and an MD degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been elected “CSM’s Favorite Professor” by the students and “Best Teacher” by the CSM IEEE. He has been named “Outstanding Teacher” at CSM by the Alumni Association and in 2002 received the Burton Jones Award from the Mathematical Association of America for distinguished university teaching. He appears in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers”.

Rita Felde (Board Treasurer)

Bio pending

Magda King (Founder/ED)

Magda King, originally from Barcelona, Spain was US National Sales Manager for an export company until 1989 when she became the 1st woman from Spain to reach the summit of an 8,000 meter peak (Cho-Oyu 26,907 ft.). During her professional climbing career, she has climbed on seven of the only fourteen peaks in the world that exceed 26,000 ft. and organized many climbs to smaller peaks around the world. She has been recognized by Sports Women of Colorado, and received awards from the Mayor of Barcelona, the Olympic Committee, the President of the Catalan Government and many other organizations for her achievements in mountaineering. As a professional speaker, she motivates audiences to pursue their goals and make a difference in the world.

In appreciation for the help that she received from the Sherpa people during her expeditions, she wanted to give something back and chose education as the best gift. During 1998 she traveled through the United States doing slide shows and collecting the $10,000 in donations necessary to build an elementary school. After spending three months in a remote area of Nepal helping the locals build their school, she returned to Denver and in 1999 started Namlo International.

Volunteers

Thank you for supporting our work. Namlo International loves to connect volunteers with the children, teachers, and parents in our schools and communities. Below are some ways you can help make our porgrams come to life. Contact us for other volunteer needs (office help, fundraising events, etc.)

Volunteer Opportunities

School construction

Travel to one of our schools to help with construction.

School improvement

Record books on tape (English or Spanish).

Travel to one of our schools to help train teachers in how to use donated books and materials.

Sustainable community development

Volunteer or partner with us to share your expertise in community building, small business operation, fair trade, crafts, potable water, renewable energy, health or hygiene.

Travel to one of our schools to help with a project.

Scholarships

Travel to one of our schools to tutor students in English.

Sister schools

Travel as individuals or a class to meet your sister school classmates and help them and their community.

For details about travel dates and costs, call (303-399-3649), or visit our contact page to reach us.