WASH Forum August Series on, “Youth Participation in Mega Earthquake Response: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead”

With the objectives to get update on participation of youths in mega earthquake response  with the  information about opportunities and challenges ahead and to discuss on the effective role of youths , WASH forum  August series was organized  for observing International Youth Day 2015 and Nepal  Mega Earthquake 2072 entitled ,“Youth Participation in Mega Earthquake Response: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead”  by Paschim Paaila in collaboration with ENPHO on 28^th August, 2015 at ENPHO Hall, Thapagaun. The resource person for August Series was Mr. Brabim Kumar K.C, President, Association of Youth Organizations Nepal (AYON). There were 26 participants from different colleges, organizations and institutions actively participated on the interaction forum with knowledge sharing.

Ms. Sabuna Gamal, Technical Coordinator of Paschim Paaila briefly introduced about WASH Forum and highlighted the objectives of the program. Mr. Brabim Kumar K.C started the session on very interactive way and all of the participants shared their experiences when they felt earthquake and response after earthquake. Then he focused on the youth involvement in response, challenges and opportunities in future. He motivated Youths to be rebuilder, educator or vigilant for the nation building. He appreciated the active participation of youths after earthquake and shared about the fact that we missed opportunities on claiming the position and policy level intervention.

At the end, one of the new participant of WASH Forum appreciated resource person with token of love and Ms. Sabuna Gamal delivered vote of thanks to the resource person and participants with conclusion of program followed by group photo.

Celebrating World Menstrual Hygiene Day- 2015

sMenstruation is a natural process that all women have to go through it, but this natural phenomenon which is perceived as an impure, bound by silence, shame and social taboo in our society. A woman menstruate for a total 40 years in her lifetimes but majority of women who lives in developing country like Nepal do not have access to clean water, sanitation and Hygiene and other services and opportunities as well as there is lack of awareness on Menstrual Hygiene in Nepalese community as like NalangVDC where people even don’t consider about menstruation matter.

Thus, Paschim Paaila has taken the initiation through mass awareness program on Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) focusing on Menstrual Hygiene Management on 29^th May, 2015 to mark the “World Menstrual Hygiene Day- 2015” at Nalang VDC of Dhading district.

The program was started with the short speech of Ram Prasad Silwal, Incharge, Nalang Health Post. There were more than about 200 Participants and most of them were female of menstruating age group. Participants didn’t interact about menstruation at starting. When we shared menstruation as natural phenomenon and importance of menstrual hygiene, they started to share their problems regarding menstruation especially during the earthquake time. The one of the important achievements was female of menstruating age were motivated to maintain hygiene during menstruation through the mass awareness program.

In addition to this, soap for hand washing, chlorine solution, Piyush were distributed to each household and sanitary pads were distributed to teenager girls. At last, the program was concluded by Paschim Paaila Team followed by group photo.