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.