Youth Day Celebration with Talk Program on “Scope and Role of Youth in Environment and Health Sector with Bhushan Tuladhar”

Youth Group photo

On the special occasion of International Youths Day (IYD) 12^th august, 2013, Paschim Paaila organized a Talk program on Scope and Role of youth in the sector of Environment and Health with Mr. Bhusan Tuladhar, Environmentalist as resource person for the program.  

Token Of love to Bhushan Sir

Mr.Buddha Bajracharya, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila welcomed all the 48 energetic youth from various backgrounds with brief objective of talk program as to get motivated and inspired by Bhushan sir regarding role and scope of youth in sector of environment and health with Grand celebration of IYD with Paschim Paaila. 

Mr. Tuladhar started his session focusing on the role of youth rather than scope with fact that, “Youths are not future but present among them top 5% are in this room.” Youths are for today i.e. youth’s empowerment should be utilized for today. He further focused on how one can utilize the resources that they have. He raised three questions in that case, Where are we? Where do we want to go? And how can we reach there? He mentioned that most of people get confused on where they are? So one should first know that where they are in the present situation.

During the program

He also talked about SWOT/C (Strength Weakness Opportunity Threat/Challenges) in which SW is the internal factor whereas OT is the external factor. He listed as a youth of Nepal, strength of youth from among the youth present in the program which were Unity, Hard working, Energetic, Enthusiastic, Volunteering, Patriotism, Skill and Knowledge, Decision making power, Hopefulness and Patience, Honesty, Self confidence, Cooperative and Optimistic. Among all these points, he focused in the point Optimistic the most.

Similarly, the weakness of youth were listed as Negative Attitude, Confusion, Hopelessness, Lack of patience, Blaming other, Aggressiveness, Jealousy, Low self esteem, Selfishness, Afraid of initiation, Stubborn, Bounding in making decision, Selfish politics, Communication problem and so on. The youths should always focus on positive attitude rather than negative attitude so that they can understand themselves that where they are right now Mr. Tuladhar suggested. He mentioned Success is 90% attitude and 10 % work. Success can start with own strength. He further talked about the entrepreneurship.

He inspired the youth to be proactive along with volunteer spirit. "Don’t depend on other to tell you that what you should do this or that." One should think in a broad way that how he/she can do something different than other.

Participant Interacting

The program moved towards discussion where participants raised lots of queries "what may be the possible threats in the sector of environment and public health? Are they vulnerable?" and the solution were also given to those queries as we must remember “Russian Rule” that “I must do it in order to get rid of it”, must have willingness to learn, courage to make mistake and confidence or pair of support may be missing. Also asked by participant as she wants to do something innovative but have no confidence and what she can do in that case? One of the participants gave suggestion that stand in front of mirror and say that "I am the one I can do, today is my day and start it today." In between of smile and non smile, there is a gap and that gap is the great thing that motivates yourself and other.

At the end of the program Mr. Tuladhar was appreciated with Token of love. Likewise Mr. Bajracharya Thanked all the participants and resource person for making the program a grand success and also collected feedback to make to program more effective in the future with sharing about Emergency Relief Fund (ERF). Some of the youth donated some amount for ERF. Finally a group photo was taken and the floor was closed.

WASH and Emergency July series

WASH Forum July series in titled “WASH and Emergency” was successfully conducted on 26^th July, 2013 at ENPHO Hall. Mr. Rajesh Shrestha, Program manager of Lumanti was the resource person for the event.

The program started with warm welcome by Mr. Roshan Chaulagain Advocacy Coordinator of Paschim Paaila. Welcome speech was given by Project coordinator of ENPHO, Mr. Ash Kumar Khaitu and he mentioned that “Youth loves honor and victory than wealth”.

Resource person, Mr. Rajesh Shrestha started session with experience of WASH and emergency while working at UNICEF for the people suffered from flood during 2004 Koshi Flood. He explained about the disaster, its management cycle and Sphere guideline that can be used in case of emergency. Further he explained about WASH mitigation and the preparedness that we should apply in order to be safe in case of disaster.

Then the session was headed towards discussion where participants asked lots of queries. The queries were related works and helps being given to the people living in Koshi after the Koshi flood and the clarification was given as regular WASH programs are being run after the Koshi flood as they were free from disaster but still needs awareness. Another participant asked that in case of emergency, should we care sustainability or not and he replied that according to disaster and epidemic nature after applying WASH and Emergency for either three or six month, it is send for sustainability.

 

The whole information obtained was summarized by Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila. And Token of Love was distributed to Mr. Rajesh Shrestha, the resource person by Ms. Urmila Lama, The Paaila of the Year 2012/13. Finally a group photo was taken and the floor was closed.

Annual Sharing Meeting of Paschim Paaila

Annual Sharing meeting of Paschim Paaila on the occasion of 4^th anniversary was held at 20^th July, 2013 at ENPHO hall, Thapagaun on Saturday. Paschim Paaila is an informal youth network focused on environmental health with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and disasters/epidemics as social concern which was formed on July 17, 2009 after the outbreak of Diarrhea/Cholera epidemic in Mid and Far Western region of Nepal with a youthful spirit of selfless volunteer service.

After the warm welcome by MC Ms. Karuna Bhattarai, Guests and all the participants were chaired. The Guest were Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan, President of Paschim Paaila, Mr. Giri Raj Khatri, Past President of Paschim Paaila, Mr. Bipin Dangol, Program Manager of ENPHO and Mr. Prajwol Shrestha, Program Manager of ENPHO Mr. Raman Nepali, Youth Activist, Mr. Anil Shrestha, Youth Activist, Mr. Om Prasad Gautam, Researcher,.

Ms. Kamala KC, Past Campaign Coordinator and active paaila of Paschim Paaila welcomed all the participants continuing the program by documentary screening entitled "The candles for water". Ms. Merina Shakya, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila, started the Annual Sharing starting with its introduction, vision, mission and objectives. The key activities like impact study of Su-Swastha pariyojana, series of wash concern workshop, wash forum, etc. with glimpse of Paschim Paaila were shared. Milestones like deusi bhailo, WASH awareness raising toolkit, SWASH Campaign and successful celebration of 4^th anniversary of Paschim Paaila with inter school drawing competition and Diyo lightening at Swyambhu were shared.

Ms.  Urmila Lama was declared as Paaila of the year 2012/13 announced by Mr. Dangol giving her congratulation and best wishes. Certificates to the participants of Drawing competition, WASH Concern Workshop and Awareness raising toolkit implementation was then distributed.

Then Paaila Idea Fund 2013, basket fund innovated by the paailas handed over to 2-3 genuine ideas in the field of WASH and Disaster. This time the fund was provided to Mr. Regan Sapkota for "Mahila Ka Paaila" and Mr. Niroj Maharjan for "Blood Pressure Weight Monitoring and WASH Awareness Camp."

The Annual sharing again resumed with the declaration by Ms. Merina Shakya to hand over the Network Coordinator post to Mr. Buddha Bajracharya for the fiscal Year 2013/14. Certificate to the volunteers of School WASH (SWASH) campaign, Drama and those who helped in the coordination of events for 4^th Anniversary of Paschim Paaila was distributed.

Mr. Bipin Dangol, then shared the guest remark where he suggested Paschim Paaila to never lose the essence i.e. Youth spirit and Volunteerism i.e. if they are placed parallel then only Paschim Paaila can sustain. He even requested to include as much as more paailas who were there at the beginning of the initiative, because their knowledge and experience can also help Paschim paaila to move forward.

 Mr. Raman Nepali and Mr. Anil Shrestha as a guest energized the participants with their motivational speech and various examples which indeed added an extra gem to the annual sharing of Paschim Paaila.  Mr. Giri raj Khatri shared, the journey next is not easy but if all of us are committed then it is not so difficult as well. Mr. Buddha Bajracharya shared ongoing activities, Pipeline activities and avenues wise future planning of Paschim Paaila.

 Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan, President of Paschim Paaila, Mr. Om Prasad Gautam and Mr. Prajwol Shrestha inspired and showed the way ahead with their innovative ideas. Their presence has always leaded Paschim Paaila to a way forward and will always is how Ms. Merina Shakya addressed their support and words.

The Annual Sharing was then followed by cake cutting ceremony along with some photos. 

Written By: Manisha Thapaliya