Youth initiative on GOAL for WASH Promotion - DRR

Youth Initiative on GOAL for WASH Promotion - DRR

On the occasion of World Environment Day and World Cup-2014, there was successfully conducted innovative campaign “GOAL for WASH-DRR (Water Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion and Disaster Risk Reduction) ” on 25^th and 26^th June, 2014 organized by Paschim Paaila and UDRM project. The main theme of this event was “Voice of all, Disaster Risk Reduction & WASH Promotion is Our GOAL”. The event was organized at seven different venues (Lalitpur sub-Metropolitan City-5, LSMC-19, LSMC-17, Imadol-6, LSMC-14, LSMC-15 and Dhapakhel-1) at lalitpur district.

The overall objectives of the program were to celebrate World Environment Day along with World Cup 2014 and raise awareness to community people as well as to disseminate knowledge and information to community people on importance of DRR, Emergency preparedness and Emergency WASH. Altogether 310 people (including child, youth, old age) actively participated during the program.

A goal post made of bamboo was decorated that reflected the message of water, sanitation hygiene and disaster. Inside the post, an easy pan was placed in which the participants had to target the pan by shooting the ball. 

Those who made the right target, were provided gifts such as PIYUSH, flexs with messaged on DRR and WASH, Posters etc. “This is a very unique and innovative idea to raise awareness and dissimenate information of WASH and disaster to the community people. I liked this approach very much” said one of the participants. The volunteers from Paschim Paaila along with members from DMC of different wards gave their effort to make this event effective and successful.  

Accomplishment of Youth WASH Concern Workshop VIII - Series

Accomplishment of Youth WASH Concern Workshop VIII - Series

Youth WASH Concern Workshop VIII series was successfully organized on 31^st May and 1^st June, 2014 at Thames International College, Old Baneswor, Kathmandu. The objectives of this workshop were to enhance the capacity and knowledge on WASH, to empower youth on WASH initiatives as social issues and to sensitize youth on importance of WASH to create environmentally healthy community. Overall, the training workshop was facilitated by Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, Network Coordinator and Mr. Roshan Chaulagain, Advocacy Coordinator of Paschim Paaila. Altogether 23 participants from different colleges, institutions, organizations actively participated during the training.

During the training, the resource persons and the participants shared their experiences and ideas. In the session of “Water Management”, Mr. Bipin Dangol, Program Manager of ENPHO highlighted the importance and scarcity of water and he suggested everyone to take this issue seriously and focused on need of proper utilization of water at household level for different purposes. Meanwhile in the session of “Water and PoU option”, Mr. Roshan Chaulagain shared the different methods of water purification at household level and at local level for drinking purpose. Sharing on the issue of “Water and Health”, Mr. Buddha discussed about water pollution in urban and peri-urban areas and its consequences in human health. Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan, District Coordiantor of UN-Habitat shared his experience and showed the actual scenario of community of our country in the sector of WASH.

In the second day of training workshop, Ms. Kamala K.C, Consultant at Water Aid Nepal discussed on food hygiene, personal hygiene and menstrual hygiene and Ms. Merina Shakya, Project Officer of ENPHO elaborate on WASH during disaster. Last but not the least, Mr. Raman Nepali, Youth Activist inspired and motivated the participants to work in the field of WASH to make the country epidemic free and showed different relevant documentary. The participants prepared the work plan to implement in their feasible areas which was then followed by the feedback collection and finally concluded by certificate distribution.

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.

Signature Campaign for endorsing Disaster Management Bill

Signature Campaign for endorsing Disaster Management Bill

By: Merina Shakya

As a part of National Advocacy Campaign on Disaster Management, “paschim paaila” in coordination with DPNet Nepal, YDRR and other national/international organizations conducted a week long signature campaign for endorsing Disaster Management Bill from January 16-23, 2012 on different landmark areas of Kathmandu Valley.

After signing from Honorable Prime Minister, Mr. Babu Ram Bhattarai and Famous Actress, Ms. Rekha Thapa, nominated as Advocacy Ambassador, at the exhibition on the first day for showing the solidarity kicked off the signature campaign. The key objective of the campaign was to get the Disaster Management Bill endorsed by government as soon as possible.   The campaign was intended to increase public awareness to understand disaster management, its need and disaster risk reduction, to increase public voice for the policy provision in the sector of disaster management and to create pressure to the policy makers, governmental authorities and concern bodies regarding disaster management.

Different areas within the valley were selected for the whole campaign including areas like Bhaktapur Durbar Square Area, Sano Thimi, Madhyapur Thimi, Kamalbinayak ,Suryabinayak, Patan Dhoka, Mangalbazar,Lagankhel etc. People appreciated and wanted to know more about the campaign and showed their interest on the topic. However, some people raised question like -“Will this campaign really work for what you people are thinking to do?”  Overall campaign has found as appreciable work where general public knew about the Disasters its management and requirement of policy.