Youths engaged for WASH awareness at Youth Sports Mela

Youths engaged for WASH awareness at Youth Sports Mela

By: Phurba Sange Moktan

As youths are considering the leaders of today, Youth Sports Mela justified it very well, which was the joint efforts of equal access with UNICEF, Rotary international and other stakeholders on 3rd and 4th December, 2010 on different parts of Nepal.

In the arena of remarkable role playing, “paschim paaila” became the one in which exhibition of different Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health (WASH) technologies along with other sensitizing activities like handwashing demonstration and playing games were done on Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts. WASH EXHIBITION was conducted by “paschim paaila” jointly with ENPHO and CAWST. The participants of the Youth Sports Mela got interesting the different models and demonstration kits exhibited at the exhibition stall such as ecosan toilets, wastewater treatment plants, biosand filter, water testing kits, SODIS bottle, compost bin and different posters/leaflets. Handwashing demonstration at HANDWASHING STATION was another interesting part for the participants at the exhibition stall in which they not only understood the importance of handwashing but also got the opportunities to practice by themselves. “This demonstration practice of correct measures of washing hands with soap will definitely help me to continue ahead as well to improve my hygiene behavior”, Said, one participant from NAMS college.

“I hit a germ and got this soap”, said Ms. Shova, one student participant from TC after wining the prize for hitting a germ on a handwashing game, “HIT THE GERM”, which was also got very interesting among visitors. Ms. Kamala, facilitator said, “Game is just the way to get engaged, but the foremost objective is to help them to learn with fun.” Also, Photographs representing the health and hygiene situation of current Nepal was presented on the exhibition that was taken by “paschim paaila” campaigners during the epidemic response time on 2009. The money collected from the game and tickets were sent to the organizer that will ultimately go to the organizations working on differently able community.

Different stakeholders had different stall presentations on different issues. And different types of funny and learning games were played alongside. “We not only had fun, but also learnt important messages on different things including hygiene and health”, said, one participant from RAC Dillibazar.