Talking about Role of youth in WASH and development

Talking about Role of youth in WASH and development

With the mutual effort of Paschim Paila and Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO), WASH Forum shares a common platform for Knowledge sharing and advocacy regarding water, sanitation and hygiene and disasters/epidemics. In this forum, basically current issues, concerns and initiatives of WASH are focused along with cross-cutting issues and it even tries to address the voices of diversified youth, communities and others. 

With an objective to provide an opportunity for social interaction and knowledge sharing on WASH and its role on development and to critically analyze Youth’s role in development, February series of WASH Forum entitled “Bond between WASH and Development: Opportunities for Youth” was successfully conducted on 22^nd February 2013 at ENPHO hall, Thapaguan.

Mr. Ashutosh Tiwari, Country Representative, Water Aid Nepal was the key speaker of February series of WASH forum which had total of 25 participants. Mr. Tiwari during his sharing program highlighted the importance of Data driven advocacy and with various examples proved its effectiveness. He motivated the youths to have their approach data driven because data have their own life, and are very powerful. He encouraged youths to play with data and feel its impact.

Mr. Tiwari with his long experience he engaged the participants to search for some opportunities that immediately serves mankind, which really addresses the problem. Few results of that brainstorming was Bio gas plant in community, Composting, proper solid waste management, small scale urban agriculture, dry eco-san, reduction in use of plastic in  household and etc. He clarify that there is no lack of good ideas but there is lack of packaging and selling it. 

He suggested all the participants not to be limited only up to raising awareness and act on increasing knowledge because people know, but they just do not act upon them. So think of something and get going in the direction is how he concluded.

On a Question raised, “Even we try to do things people does not help us. They are not even ready to listen to us. How shall we pursue then?”, he had replied, “First of all we have to find someone whom they listen and then only pursue, you know, we have to move according to this society”.

The program was facilitated by Roshan Chaulagain. Mr. Rajesh Adhikari Promotional Manager of ENPHO rejuvenated the participants with his motivating concluding lines.

By: Manisha Thapaliya