Youths engaged for WASH awareness at Youth Sports Mela

Youths engaged for WASH awareness at Youth Sports Mela

By: Phurba Sange Moktan

As youths are considering the leaders of today, Youth Sports Mela justified it very well, which was the joint efforts of equal access with UNICEF, Rotary international and other stakeholders on 3rd and 4th December, 2010 on different parts of Nepal.

In the arena of remarkable role playing, “paschim paaila” became the one in which exhibition of different Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health (WASH) technologies along with other sensitizing activities like handwashing demonstration and playing games were done on Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts. WASH EXHIBITION was conducted by “paschim paaila” jointly with ENPHO and CAWST. The participants of the Youth Sports Mela got interesting the different models and demonstration kits exhibited at the exhibition stall such as ecosan toilets, wastewater treatment plants, biosand filter, water testing kits, SODIS bottle, compost bin and different posters/leaflets. Handwashing demonstration at HANDWASHING STATION was another interesting part for the participants at the exhibition stall in which they not only understood the importance of handwashing but also got the opportunities to practice by themselves. “This demonstration practice of correct measures of washing hands with soap will definitely help me to continue ahead as well to improve my hygiene behavior”, Said, one participant from NAMS college.

“I hit a germ and got this soap”, said Ms. Shova, one student participant from TC after wining the prize for hitting a germ on a handwashing game, “HIT THE GERM”, which was also got very interesting among visitors. Ms. Kamala, facilitator said, “Game is just the way to get engaged, but the foremost objective is to help them to learn with fun.” Also, Photographs representing the health and hygiene situation of current Nepal was presented on the exhibition that was taken by “paschim paaila” campaigners during the epidemic response time on 2009. The money collected from the game and tickets were sent to the organizer that will ultimately go to the organizations working on differently able community.

Different stakeholders had different stall presentations on different issues. And different types of funny and learning games were played alongside. “We not only had fun, but also learnt important messages on different things including hygiene and health”, said, one participant from RAC Dillibazar.

Hygiene issues were explored at WASH FORUM

Hygiene issues were explored at WASH FORUM

By: Phurba Sange Moktan

As the part of regular interaction program, WASH FORUM hit the topic regarding hygiene issues and handwashing for the month of November on 26th November, 2010 at ENPHO Hall which was the joint effort of ENPHO, paschim paaila and WASH-RCNN.\

As per the schedule, program begun at around 1:30 with the introductory icebreaking from master of ceremony, Ms. Kamala KC. The WASH FORUM was divided in to two sessions, first was the semiformal field experience sharing and certification to the volunteers of a month long “HYGIENE AND SANITATION” Campaign-10 and second was the informal key note and research based presentations by the respective resource persons on the topic, “Hygiene Issues and Handwashing: Challenges and Opportunities”.

Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan, “paschim paaila” continued the program with the introductory presentation and campaign updates of the campaign. Dr. Suman Kumar Shakya, ED of ENPHO chaired as guest and distributed certificates to encourage the field volunteers of the campaign. Alongside, he also announced the name of the winners of FACEBOOK HANDWASHING MESSAGE CONTEST-10 and awarded the winners as FACEBOOK HANDWASHING CHAMP- 1st, 2nd and 3rdin which Ms. Karishma KC, Mr. Saunak Bhatta and Ms. Kabita Gautam became 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Second session was led by Mr. Om Prasad Gautam, Water Aid Nepal with his key note presentation on the topic, “Hygiene Issues with handwashing” in which status of handwashing practices, present scenarios, different challenges versus opportunities on hygiene issues, etc were critically analyzed and presented. Then, some discussions and queries were made regarding the presentation. Similarly, field and survey based sharing on the topic were done by Ms. Neha Khanal, “paschim paaila”, who had been engaged throughout the campaign as a facilitator. She shared, “Getting awareness and applying in practice were gotten two different things for communities, unless one demonstrate and hit continuous through such campaigns, many of them won’t get bother to apply in practice.”

After having short refreshment break of about 15 minutes, Ms. Shova Adhikari, UNICEF directed her research based presentation on the same topic rationalizing the issues and situations. With taking national and global evidences from the research experiences of UNICEF, she presented the data facts and finding related to the issue. The pattern of questioning and answering side by side of the presentation were made the participants feeling curios and interested.

“This kind of interaction provide us the opportunities to think outside the box as well, otherwise it could be the challenges for us as well. Being a youth, we should take responsibilities by ourselves to have at least little efforts on such social issues”, Said, one participant on feed back collection periods. About 70 participants were actively participated on the program from various institutions and organizations. The program ended up with the final remarks and invitation for next forum on last Friday of December by Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan at around 4:00 pm.

HANDWASHING STATION kicked off by CA member Mr. Gagan Kumar Thapa

HANDWASHING STATION kicked off by CA member Mr. Gagan Kumar Thapa


Written by: Phurba Sange Moktan

On the occasion of Global Handwashing day 2010, HANDWASHING STATION was kicked off from the honorable Constitution Assembly member Mr. Gagan Kumar Thapa on 15th November, 2010 at New-Baneshwor, Kathmandu.

Global handwashing day, which has been observing since 2008 along with more than 80 countries, was decided to observe from November 15, shifting one month later than the international date in Nepal for this year due to the famous festival, Dashain and Tihar. The theme for this year was “THE DAY, MORE THAN JUST A DAY”. paschim paaila in collaboration with ENPHO, CAWST and other stakeholders jointly raised hands for campaigning to raise mass awareness, promote hygiene behavior and lift up advocacy through the campaign entitled, “HYGIENE AND SANITATION” Campaign-10, in which various sorts of activities has been organized and will continue up to the end of November, 2010. Among them, HANDWASHING STATION was one of the most sensitizing events which have inaugurated from Mr. Gagan Kumar Thapa with washing hands with soap and having commitment for continuity to make it more than just a day. Dr. Suman Kumar Shakya, Executive director of ENPHO also shared his some valuable words regarding the event and approach, which has also been very supportive. Youths from different institutions, college students from near by Colleges, school children, pedestrians, local people, paschim paaila volunteers, ENPHO staffs, etc. were participated on the event.

Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan, Campaign Coordinator said,“HANDWASHING STATION was designed as a dynamic place for sensitizing the issue of handwashing with soap, which does not only contain the hand washing facilities but also has the accessibility of soaps as well for helping to foster the local culture of handwashing with soap.” The campaign run from 15th - 19th November, 2010 on different parts of Kathmandu such as New-Baneshwor, Chabahil, Ratnapark and Bagbazar area in which some major activites were handwashing with soap, commitment collection, playing game-HIT THE GERM, demonstration of correct time and techniques to wash hands with soap, etc. About 500 people directly involved with handwashing and commitment signing. Indirectly, More than 10000 people got sensitized from the campaign.

“Though it’s just a small effort, it definitely has become the remarkable one.” Said, Mr. Ram Maharjan, Campaign facilitator.