Celebrated International Youth Day-2020

Prepared by: Paaila Sushama Sharma, Member, PP Batch III

Edited by: Paaila Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator

Every year International Youth Day (IYD) is celebrated on 12 August, 2020. This year’s theme for International Youth Day was “Youth Engagement for Global Action”. The engagement of youths at the local, national and global level enhances the process of national and institutional activities. Paschim Paaila and ENPHO has been celebrating International Youth Day to motivate, celebrate the energy of youth, engage them and enhance their capacity. Paschim Paaila and ENPHO organized the talk program, “Connecting Youth to Youth: An Inspirational Talk” and continued campaign “Mask-Mandu Campaign” to celebrated International Youth Day 2020.

An Inspirational Talk Program

The program “Connecting Youth to Youth: An Inspirational Talk” was jointly organized aligning with

this year’s theme through zoom platform on 12 August, 2020. This event was organized to transform stress in strength, encourage youth engagement in Hygiene Campaign and exploring the opportunities connecting youths to inspire and encourage for global action from local efforts.

Mr. Kshitij Raj Lohoni, Software Engineer at Apple Company and Founder of Krinjal Foundation was the Speaker of the program. The session started with life experience sharing of the speaker. Mr. Lohoni, as a part of session, reflected on the way to move forward in life with a positive thoughts and have determination to achieve the targeted goals to inspire and motivate youth. The program continued with direct question and answer session with the speaker to get suggestions and guidance regarding various topics including involvement of youth for COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 50 youths directly attended the session that started at 8 in the morning through zoom.

Mask-Mandu Campaign

Later on the day, aspiring youth volunteers of Paschim Paaila conducted Mask-Mandu Campaign at Basantapur, Kathmandu. Mask-Mandu Campaign is a youth led initiative to sensitize and aware the general public on proper use of mask and promote safe Hygiene behavior to prevent the spread of COVID-19. People walking around without mask in public, street vendors, shop owners are the target group of the campaign. During the campaign general public of different age group, economic background and professions who were walking without mask, wearing mask improperly and/or just holding mask were sensitized on importance of proper use of mask and hand hygiene. As a motivational factor, those people, walking around without mask were supported with a mask.

More than 200 public people were counselled on proper use of mask, good hygiene practices to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and its importance focusing on the present pandemic situation among which masks were distributed to 47 people. Paschim Paaila youth volunteers have been counselling and distributing mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19 with a personal safety first such as use of masks, sanitizer for both the parties, volunteers and general public and wearing face shield.

KAP Survey on Faecal Sludge Management

-Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator

Globally, 4.2 billion people still live without "safely managed sanitation" and around 673 million people practice open defecation. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 aims to achieve sanitation for all and end open defecation.

Aligning with an aim of SDG 6, Government of Nepal have declared Nepal as Open Defecation Free (ODF) nation on September 30, 2019 making the first ODF nation in South Aisa. However, safely managed sanitation remains a challenge after the declaration. Despite having latrines in each household (HHs) of Nepal, generated faecal sludge and its safe disposal has yet to come in concern for all.

To assess the public understanding on Faecal Sludge Management (FSM), ENPHO and Paschim Paaila conducted Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) survey on 16 and 17 November, 2019 in Kathmandu Valley. Data from 1091 random pedestrians was collected from Ratnapark, Lagankhel and Suryabinayak in Kathmandu Valley.

51 percent of the responsents said that they have knowledge on FSM. Amongst them, 84 percent said that they know about the impact of Faecal Sludge (FS) on health, 11 percent were unsure and 4 percent were unaware about its health impact. Likewise, amongst the respondents having knowledge on FSM, 78 percent said that FS can be treated, and 83 percent are willing to pay for treatment of FS.

Furthermore, 73 percent of the total respondents have knowledge that FS are being disposed into the river for its management.

Additionally, 64 percent respondent had connection of their toilet with the sewerage line while 35 percent had the septic tanks and remaining 1 percent had other containments such as pit and biogas production system within their household. Amongst the septic tank users have not emptied the septic tank since its use.

While safe collection and proper treatment of faecal sludge is crucial, it is equally vital to create public awareness and capacitate local service providers to increase safe practice of faecal sludge management. This study indicates that still clear understanding on FSM including local capacity building on proper faecal sludge management, its regulation and monitoring are essential so as to support and improve existing FSM practice in the community.

Drama for Behavior Change on WASH practice

- Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator, Paschim Paaila

Bringing a change in the behavior is difficult. But a change could be possible partially through different means. Being able to lead a healthy life is influenced by many factors and doesn’t solely depend on increased access to – and use of – Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, medicines or treatment. Improved insights in health behavior can provide a tremendous impact in the onset and course of health problems and act as a basis for health promotion. However, making a long-term change in behavior is rarely a simple process. Individual, social and other external factors should be integrated to positively influence healthy behavior.

Street drama being an effective tool in raising awareness and sensitization for general public, under the NERF project of ENPHO, street drama on behavior change was prepared and performed in working areas of NERF project of five districts, namely Dolakha, Sindhupalchwok, Kavre, Nuwakot and Dhading of Nepal on 9 August, 11 August, 13 August, 20 August and 22 August respectively. Drama was planned with an aim to sensitize community people to bring positive change on WASH behavior for healthy life. It was performed focusing on proper use of toilet and use of filter, as easy water purification option, targeting community people and school children. More than 3475 locals observed drama including youths, children and old.

“This drama has hit hard in my head that unclean toilets have high possibility for disease transmission as there is presence of germs that can harm us. We knew this simple things but after observing this drama it made me realize how we have been neglecting small things as keeping toilet clean. Also, I got new knowledge that we need to change filter candle in every 6 months and now we will bring it to practice. I will also convey this message to my family and neighbor as well” Aarti Kunwar, student, Uma Saha Shikshyalaya Secondary School, Kavre expressed with enthusiasm.

Youth WASH Concern Workshop-XV Series

Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, President of Paschim Paaila as Resource Person

Youth WASH Concern Workshop (YWCW) is regular program of Paschim Paaila in collaboration with ENPHO to enhance capacity of youths in the WASH sector. This two days 15th “Youth WASH Concern Workshop - XV Series” was organized in the Thames International College, Old Baneshowr on 9 and 10 March, 2019. The main objective of the workshop was to capacitate youths as WASH ambassadors empowering with WASH knowledge and to take initiatives to sensitize community to become environmentally healthy. 

Participants of YWCW-XV Series

The workshop incorporated group activities and presentations from resource persons to improve knowledge and skills of participants to advocate to improve WASH status. The workshop integrated the components of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Fecal Sludge Management (FSM), Behavior Change Communication (BCC) and Emergency including basics of WASH such as status of WASH, drinking water treatment options, sanitation status and  policy and hygiene promotion.

Participants were provided with motivational session on Youth Leadership in WASH. At the end, participants also shared group-wise plans of actions as their initiatives as a WASH leader to promote the knowledge on WASH to the people of selected community/slum and students of school/college.

Altogether 19 active students of public health, environmental science, social work, development studies and civil engineering faculties attended the program.