11th Annual Sharing of Paschim Paaila Organized

 Prepared by: Ms. Sushama Sharma, Member, PP Batch III

Edited by: Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator

Paschim Paaila organized 11^th Annual Sharing Program on 23^rd August, 2020 through zoom platform to celebrate the completion of its 11 years of journey serving in the sector of WASH, Emergency, Disaster and Epidemic with voluntary essence and to share progress of FY 2019/20 and way forward in presence of guests and Paaila members.

The program started with one minute silence for the departed souls in an epidemic and pandemic as tribute from Paschim Paaila. The program continued with presence of valuable guests Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha, Deputy Director at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as Chief Guest, Mr. Bhushan Tuladhar, Chairperson of ENPHO and Environmentalist, Prof. Dr. Murali Gopal Ranjitar, Chairperson at NIHE, Mr. Bipin Dangol, Senior Sanitation Expert at Islamic Development Bank, Ms. Bhawana Sharma, Executive Director at ENPHO, as Special Guests, Mr. Manjeet Dhakal, LDC Support Team Head, Climate Analytics, Mr. Raman Bhattarai, Intellect Disease Specialist and, Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan, Immediate Past President of Paschim Paaila as Guests.

Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator/Member Secretary of Paschim Paaila, shared the progress on activities of FY 2019/20 of Paschim Paaila which was followed by announcement of Paaila Idea Fund 2020. The basic objective of “Paaila Idea Fund” is to encourage youths of Nepal for the creative ideas into action in WASH, SDG and Emergency intervention initiatives. The introduction session of energetic youth volunteers as PP Batch III members was then followed by announcement of Paaila of the Year 2019/20 Award. Every year Paschim Paaila has been acknowledging the effort of volunteerism and dedication with the title “Paaila of the Year” award. This year, Ms. Sushama Sharma, PP Batch III member, was awarded as “Paaila of the Year 2019/20 Award”.

In the program, Chief Guest, Special Guest, Guest and Paaila members gave valuable remarks and assured to be with Paschim Paaila. During the remarks, Paschim Paaila team were appreciated for the initiative of Mask-Mandu Campaign. The campaign aims to aware and sensitize general public on proper use of mask and to maintain hygiene behaviour to prevent the spread of Coronavirus/COVID-19 engaging most energetic youths.

Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha said, “I have never seen such leadership of youth in the sector in any part of the world. It is great to such leadership of youth in Nepal but it now needs to be spread worldwide through social media and networking” during the guest remarks.

Altogether 40 Paaila members attended the Annual Sharing program as Guests and general member. Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, President of Paschim Paaila formally closed the program summarizing remarks and with the vote of thanks to guests and paaila members for the presence and remarks.

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

Young steps for epidemic free Nepal Marking 4th Anniversary of Paschim Paaila

Young steps for epidemic free Nepal Marking 4th Anniversary of Paschim Paaila

Paailas for Epedimic Free Nepal

“The journey that started to control diarrhea epidemic at Jajarkot and western part of Nepal in 2009 has continued for four years and will continue till we achieve epidemic free Nepal,” committed Buddha Bajracharya, Campaign coordinator at Paschim Paaila in “Diyo Lightning Program” at Swayambhunath on 17th July organized to celebrate 4th Anniversary of Paschim Paaila marking Peace of all departed soul due to Epidemic and Disaster in Nepal.

                                                                        “When we started our journey we did not do big things, we just distributed Piyush and Jeevan jal. It looks simple but this helped in overcoming the epidemic,” shared Giri Khatri, Immediate past president of Paschim Paaila. He also urged all the participants to join hands for achieving the goal of epidemic free Nepal. “We youths need to identify where we are needed the most, is it these less vulnerable urban areas or those vulnerable rural areas?” he motivated all.

 Bhusan Sir joining Paailas

Paailas (volunteers of Paschim Paaila) from different area and time period along with wannabe paailas and other supporters of Paschim Paaila team gathered at Swayabhunath and wished for its successful completion of four years and prayed peace to all the departed soul due to epidemic and disasters in Nepal on different time periods.

Environmentalists Bhusan Tuladhar and Shriju Pradhan along with employees of Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) joined the program to motivate all the Paailas to continue their good work. Congratulating Paschim Paaila for their four years completion, Kamal Tara Bajracharya, Youth Focal Person from Family Planning Association Nepal (FPAN) expressed that FPAN is willing to work in coordination with youths. Merina Shakya, Network coordinator of Paschim Paaila thanked all supporters and well-wishers and expected to get continuous help from all. Bhintuna Shrestha from Resource Centre Network Nepal (RCNN) praised all the activities of Paschim Paaila and wished for further development of team and epidemic free Nepal.

All the participants expressed their commitment to contribute for the epidemic free Nepal and light diyo to pray peace to the departed souls caused by epidemic.

The program ended with a group photograph with the slogan “Epidemic free Nepal: Let’s not face another epidemic in Nepal.”

By: Pratap Maharjan and Buddha Bajracharya

Paschim Paaila on its 4th Year

Paschim Paaila on its 4^th Year

July 28, 2012: With the theme of “Fun with good deeds” Paschim Paaila celebrated its 3^rd birthday by sharing knowledge on menstrual hygiene at Seti Devi School –Pharping on 17^th July 2012. Program was particularly focused on girls of lower secondary and secondary level.  In the knowledge sharing program physiological changes, social taboos, cultural aspects, nutritional aspects and psychological aspects was discussed among the participants. Basic knowledge on alternative pad making process was demonstrated. Changes during adolescence period were also discussed among boys of secondary level in the same school.

 

Program was followed by lightening the candle to raise awareness among all for creating Nepal an epidemic free nation. The objective of the program was to show deep sympathy for the untimely demise of all the disaster victims of Jajarkot epidemic, Seti flood and Bajura landslide and other emergencies. This candle lightening program was celebrated at Basantapur Dabali.  More than 150 youth were gathered showed their solidarity for creating epidemic free Nepal.

With the aim of sharing past update and plan of action for FY 12/13, annual sharing program was conducted at ENPHO hall on 28^th July, 2012. Focal person from water Aid Nepal, Clean Energy Nepal, ENPHO, PR foundation, Kathmandu Training Center were guest for the program. Executive board of Paschim paaila was reformed from immediate past president “Mr. Giri Khatri”.  Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan endorsed guiding document and past updates of Paschim Paaila.  Positive commitment was   made from guest speakers to support vision of Paschim Paaila. To encourage the new ideas and to enhance the creativity of youths “Paaila Ideal Fund” was announced on the same day. Finally event was concluded by screening Paschim Paaila documentary entitled “Youths leading for change”.