WASH Forum(May Series) on " ODF movement in Nepal and National Target"

                             Know about ODF on Forum

   With the mutual effort of Paschim Paaila and Environment and Public health organization(ENPHO), WASH Forum share a common platform for knowledge sharing and advocacy regarding water, sanitation and hygiene and disaster/epidemics. In this forum, basically current issue and it even tries to address the voice of diversified youth, communities and others.

   With an objective to provide an opportunity for social interaction and knowledge in WASH and its role on development and to critically analyze Youth's role in development, May series of WASH forum entitled "ODF Movement in Nepal and National Target" was successfully conducted on 24^th May 2013.

   Mr. Guna Raj Shrestha, Executive Director of Community Development Forum was the key speaker in which there were total 21 participants. Mr. Shrestha during his sharing program highlighted the importance of ODF in all the levels. He motivated the youths to spread awareness of ODF as it is the most challenging issues in the present scenario in our country.

    During that session, Mr. Shrestha shared his long personal experience, motivational examples which really address the problem of Nepal. “Triggering tools, pressuring, reward/recognition will be the most effective to aware the people and to pass the message of WASH” he said.

   On a question raised, “How is ODF sustained where it is already declared? What about ODF in Kathmandu?” he replied, we can't change peoples’ thinking until and unless they are self aware, it is hard in Kathmandu but not impossible, as there should implement the government policy, we have to think and act seriously. Overall the program was facilitated by Mr. Roshan Chaulagain and the program was ended with group photo and interaction with participants.

WASH Orientation Program to Women Group of Baba Co-operative

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) orientation was conducted among the female group of Baba Saving and credit Cooperative Ltd, Thimi on 1^st June 2013 at Yechu Party Palace, Thimi with the coordination of Paschim Paaila. It basically focuses on environmental health with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and disasters/epidemics as social concern.

Ms. Merina Shakya, Network Coordinator Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, Campaign coordinator and Ms. Manisha Thapalia, Media Coordinator  were the representatives from Paschim Paaila who facilitated the entire program. Total of 30 participants attended the orientation which was organized by Baba Saving and credit cooperative Ltd.

Mr. Nabin Prakash Shrestha, President of Baba Saving and Credit cooperative Ltd, on his opening speech asked all the participants to be a part of the session and apply in practice. Ms. Gita Shrestha was the Master of Ceremony (MC) of the program.

Ms. Merina Shakya started the session with the introduction of Water and its importance. Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, before entering in his session of Water purification methods energized the session with signature dance. Then the session was further continued. Many queries about the effectiveness of water purification method were raised and solved. Hygiene and Sanitation issues were further addressed during the session.

Our hand may look clean but how clean it really was, was then demonstrated by asking one of the participants to wash her hand with plain water and shown. Need of hand washing was then highlighted and proper hand washing techniques was demonstrated. The importance of hand washing using soap was made felt to the participants, after that there was session about household waste water management where basically the main concepts of household waste management was made clear and participants were also provided information that detail training of composting will be managed soon so that they can learn whole process of composting and apply at their home.

 At the end of all the session the participants were distributed with important IEC materials regarding WASH and also Soap were distributed. Thus the overall program went great with positive feedback and participation of the active women members of Baba-cooperative and the program ended with lunch and commitment to meet next time to learn about composting.