Paschim Paaila Celebrated its 7th Anniversary

On the occasion of the 7th Anniversary of Paschim Paaila, a special program was successfully organized on 17 July 2016 at Café de Patan, Lalitpur. Additionally, a Candle Lighting Program was also organized on the day at the historical Patan Durbar Square premises, Lalitpur.

Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan, President of Paschim Paaila facilitated the event. Mr. Bipin Dangol, Executive Director of ENPHO, Ms. Biju Dangol, WASH Team Leader at OXFAM, and Mr. Rajan Thapa, Program Officer at Clean Energy Nepal (CEN) were the special guests of the event. Paschim Paaila members and volunteers, and ENPHO staff members were in attendance. Mr. Bipin Dangol congratulated Paschim Paaila on the completion of seven consecutive years of service and encouraged innovative youth mobilization in the coming years. He further remarked that Paschim Paaila is an integral youth network within ENPHO that time and again has proved vital for advocacy campaigns. The event concluded with the sharing of well wishes for future endeavors and commitments towards expansion of the network in the coming days by attendees.

Collectively, 70 participants gathered to make the event memorable and successful.

Paschim Paaila is the informal youth network with dedicated youth volunteers which has been actively striving to achieve epidemic free Nepal since 2009. Till date, more than 1500 Paschim Paaila volunteers have been mobilized in various Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) campaigns and emergency responses. ENPHO is providing the secretariat for Paschim Paaila.

WASH Forum June series on “Rethink Before You Drink: Bacteriological Water Quality Assessment of Street Vendors”

Paschim Paaila in collaboration with ENPHO, successfully conducted the 42^nd series of WASH Forum on “Rethink Before You Drink! Bacteriological Water Quality Assessment of Street Vendors” on June 24, 2016 at ENPHO Hall, Thapagaun, New Baneshowor. Mr. Subin Kalu, Research Associate at ENPHO resided as the resource person. The major objective of the forum was to share the current scenario of drinking water quality of street vendors.

Mr. Tej Kiran Joshi, Technical Coordinator of Paschim Paaila/Senior RC Associate of ENPHO delivered a welcome note with a brief introduction on Paschim Paaila and highlighted the objectives of the WASH Forum. Mr. Subin Kalu, delivered the status of water quality of street vendors and also addressed hygiene and sanitation issues associated with street vendors. After the presentation, the floor was opened for discussion on various topic like methods of conducting water quality analysis, importance of drinking safe water, and preventive methods of diarrheal diseases.

Collectively, 25 participants from different colleges and institutions actively participated in the interactive forum.

WASH Forum May series: Menstrual Hygiene Management, Men in Menstruation As a continuation of regular activities, Paschim Paaila in collaboration with ENPHO, successfully conducted the 41st WASH Forum on “Menstrual Hygiene Management: Men in Menstruation” to coincide with the World Menstrual Hygiene Day. The program was conducted on 27 May 2016 at ENPHO Hall, New Baneshwor. Mr. Ankit Aryal, Advocacy Officer of ENPHO resided as the resource person and delivered a presentation addressing the main objectives of the forum; specifics on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM), issues and challenges on MHM, and the role of men in menstruation. Mr. Tej Kiran Joshi, Technical Coordinator of Paschim Paaila/ Senior Resource Center Associate of ENPHO, delivered a welcome note and highlighted the objective of Paschim Paaila and WASH Forum. Mr. Ankit Aryal shared myths, and taboos associated with menstruation and highlighted restriction placed on females during their menses in Afghanistan, India, and Nepal. Mr. Aryal further linked MHM with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Altogether, 21 participants from various colleges and institutions attended the interactive forum.  During the event, participants shared anecdotes and opinions related to MHM. One of the female participants shared her thoughts on menstruation as a natural biological change seen in females and emphasized on the fact that she was never embarrassed to talk about menstruation with male and female friends, family members, and colleagues.