Deusivailo spread the messages: “Togetherness for water”

Deusivailo spread the messages: “Togetherness for water”

Tihar is considered as 2^nd greatest festival of Nepal. And “DeusiVailo” is one of traditional culture that is generally played for fun on this occasion. People form different age group plays deusi and vailo for entertainment from which people raise some funds; they all have their own purposes of raising fund.

Following this culture, youths from Paschim Paaila in collaboration with Pathivara Nava Yuva Club, Pathivara tole played DeusiVailo at different organizations and different community. This program was organized with the aim of raising funds that can be used for social cause as youth led initiatives.

The cause for the program was to upgrade the existing water supply facilities and constructing Bio-Sand Filter of Pathivara Community, Kapan VDC. Youths form Pathivara community contributed their talent for their own community which really inspires other youths as well. The objective was to support the efforts of youths from Pathivara to construct Bio-Sand Filter that can supply water to whole community and also to develop the better fellowship between community, Youths and various organizations working in the Environmental Health and Disaster sector.

“Deusivailo” program was played on six different organizations which were Environment & Public Health Organization (ENPHO), WASH-Resource Center Network Nepal (WASH-RCNN), AYON, UN-HABITAT, Oxfam, Clean Energy Nepal on 13^th November, 2012. These organizations showed their support financially and also committed for technical support. This program was able to collect good fund and establish better relation with different organization that are working in the sector of WASH and environment. Total NRs. 28,401/- was collected form these organizations.

The team of Pathivara are now preparing for the implementation of the program. Further more Regional Technical Advisor of UN-Habitat, Mr. Bhusan Tuladhar, said -“UN-Habitat will always be there for other technical support as well if needed”. These words boosted up the energy of Youths from Pathivara and Paschim Paaila. Also all other organizations were delighted to be the part of the events and they also enjoyed a lot with the team.

“Let’s learn proper Handwashing”: Paschim Paaila continues to share the message.

“Let’s learn proper Handwashing”: Paschim Paaila continues to share the message. 

With the theme “Help more children reach their 5^th birthday”, 5^th Global Handwashing Day was celebrated with different activities from 13-15^th October, 2012 targeting school students of different places.

Kite flying is taken as one of fun filled activities of great festival Dashain. Especially at the festive seasons most of us ignore hygiene and food safety. In order to aware local people to be conscious and marking Global Handing Washing Day, Paschim Paaila organized Handwashing day special Hiking at Champadevi, Pharping and Change Chet competition at White House Danda, KIrtipur which were the trekking route on 13^th October, 2012. Different Handwashing messages and slogans were written at the kite. 15 Youths participated at the hiking program. “This is a great idea to learn, share with such a fun” - said one of the participated hikers.

On the same day, Ms. Merina Shakya, Network Coordinator and Mr. Buddha Bajracharya , Campaign Coordinator  of Paschim Paaila shared on WASH issues and Handwashing techniques on “WASH Training” which was organized by Rotaract Club Jawalakhel at Sathi Ko Sath, an orphanage at  Hattiban Lalitpur. There were altogether 53 children and the other members of Sathi Ko Sath at the program.

Program was also conducted at Balmandir –Bal Sanrakchyan Griha, Siphal to demonstrate Handwashing technique & its importance and soap were also handed over for the Griha on 14^th October, 2012. Similarly, members of Paschim Paaila were involved on the Jhaukhel Drama and school awareness program on 15^th October, 2012.

Workshop ends with initiation of “WAP”

Workshop ends with initiation of “WAP”

Paschim Paaila completed its 4^th series of WASH Concern Workshop. The workshop was held on 6^th October, 2012 (20^th Ashoj, 2069), Saturday at Thames Seminar Hall, Thames International College, Mid-Baneshwor, Kathmandu. The objective of workshop was to enhance capacity and knowledge on WASH, empower the youths on WASH initiatives as social service, motivate youths being as a Youth WASH ambassador and sensitize youth on the importance of WASH to create environmentally healthy community.

Event was coordinated by Mr. Dibit Aryal, Technical Coordinator of Paschim Paaila and facilitated by Mr. Roshan Chaulagain, Research and Advocacy Coordinator of Paschim Paaila and Mr. Anismit Enual . A day long workshop was conducted with 24 participants of 11different institutes. Workshop was scheduled form 9:30am to 6:00pm dividing into 4 sessions; Water & Health, Sanitation & Waste Management, Personal Hygiene, Health and Youths Role and Information Dissemination. Ice-breaking including Introduction, self assessment, expectation collection and ground rule was overall facilitated by Ms. Merina Shakya, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila. 1^st session of workshop, Water and Health was facilitated by Ms. Kamala K.C, Regional WASH-RC Coordinator at Kaski and Board Member of Paschim Paaila including group work, focusing water, its pollution, health issues relating water and POU of water. 

Mr. Kashi Kanta Thakur, ENPHO, Wet-Center Trainer facilitated session of Sanitation and Waste Management sharing on sanitation status of Nepal with some of the field studies and his experiences . Similarly, Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan, WATSAN-Coordinator at UN-Habitat and President of Paschim Paaila facilitated the Personal Hygiene, Health and Youths Role session highlighting major Hygiene issues and hands-on demonstration of Healthy Handwashing Techniques.  He also boosted the participate Youth groups focusing the role and opportunities of Youths to develop the Nation. Mr. Rabin Bastola, National Coordinator WASH-RCNN, effectively facilitated the session of “Information Dissemination: Share what you learn” pointing the opportunities and introducing different social medias which can help us to disseminate information in individual as well as community level.

Workshop was conducted in participatory way, including group work in different sessions. Four groups were formed at the beginning of the session. This was also final group, who were responsible for the preparation of Action Plan as a team after the completion of Workshop by the end of the day. Two of best Action Plan were selected for the Award considering the criteria like innovation/creativity, dimension, and participation of team members. These two actions were rewarded with WASH Action Prize “WAP” 1^st worth Rs.2000/- and 2^nd worth Rs. 1000/-.WASH Concern Workshop ended up with action plan preparation was the expected output of the workshop for which Mr. Rabin Bastola, Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan, Ms. Kamala K.C. and Ms. Merina Shakya contributed for the Reward.

“I am really happy to be a part of this event WASH Concern Workshop and get to know about water sanitation and health and committee that I will follow all what I have learned”- said one of the participate. “The idea of WAP is really good, this not only motivate us to work but also support us to execute our plan”-said another participate. 

Paaila’s moving towards healthy community with visually impaired groups.

Paaila’s moving towards healthy community with visually impaired groups.

To encourage youths of Nepal for the creative ideas on WASH and Emergency interventions, that can be changed into action; to promote those creative ideas and to sensitize youths to execute idea into action, Paschim Paaila announced, “Paaila Idea Fund” worth Rs.5000/-.After having open invitation for the ideas, many Youth came up with many ideas. Among different ideas, the idea of “WASH Knowledge to Blind and Deaf students” was selected and was awarded to Mr. Pradeep Bhattari.

As we all know that, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) are considered as basic needs of people. Pure and safe water, proper sanitation and hygiene should be accessible to all to meet the MDG goal. To meet the target we should flow the message through different activities that covers all the spot including different groups of people. But in general, programs are designed and conducted targeting particular groups who are physically able. 

Therefore to execute the idea of “WASH Knowledge to Blind and Deaf” and also to share WASH Knowledge, Paschim Paaila conducted WASH Knowledge sharing program for Blind student at Laboratory School, Kirtipur on 24^th September, 2012.

Total 65 students of different class and 6 school staffs were present at the program. Program was facilitated by Youths of Paschim Paaila, Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, Mr. Pradeep Bhattarai, Ms. Lakpa Shrepa, Ms. Rubita Pulami, and Ms. Merina Shakya . Program was started with introduction of the team member and with simple game. Ms. Merina Shakya oriented about Water including POU options and Personal Hygiene focusing on Handwashing Techniques whereas, Mr. Buddha Bajracharya oriented regarding Sanitation including waste management and 3R techniques. The whole program was very interactive and participatory as students shared their knowledge regarding WASH. All the students learned six critical stage and proper techniques of Handwashing and also about waste management.

As this was an orientation for them, further more different follow up programs will also be conducted in coming future. Lastly, we express our gratitude towards all the teacher and administration of Laboratory School, Kirtipur. 

Experts View: Sanitation in Nepal on WASH FORUM

Experts View: Sanitation in Nepal on WASH FORUM 

 By: Dibit Aryal

Focusing the present scenario of sanitation an interaction series on the topic “Sanitation in Nepal: Past, Present & Future” views of expert and the perspectives of youths was discussed and shared in a program conducted on 30^th August, 2012 as a part of WASH FORUM, August discussion series.

                             

Mr. Kamal Adhikari, sanitation expert from UN- Habitat shared his experience regarding the sanitation issues in Nepal which is also one of the neglected topics among people. He expressed his feelings towards sanitation process in Nepal and as well as the reason behind to write his book “Sanitation in Nepal: Past, Present & Future”.  He discussed about the triggering methods and problems regarding the implementation phase of development projects about health and sanitation. Mr. Adhikari thoroughly explained his book briefly in the series of Past, Present and Future of sanitation. Beside that he also discussed the scenario of local and international NGO’s who comes with different ideas and fund but cannot achieve the goal as per the people’s requirement of sanitation process.

Following the session, Ms. Kamala K.C. Coordinator of WASH Resource Centre, Pokhara, expressed her views regarding the book written by Mr. Adhikari. She said, “If we want to change the situation we first had to change ourselves and to change ourselves effectively, we first have to change our perception”. Participants form 15 different institutions were the part of the sharing and discussion program.

At last the certificates were distributed among the participant of the debate program which was organized by Paschim Paaila on International Youth Day, 12^th August, 2012