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.

Street Drama for Total Sanitation Campaign

Street Drama for Total Sanitation Campaign

Street Drama raising awareness and sensitizing people about five components of healthy living (safe drinking water, proper use and maintenance of toilet, personal hygiene including proper hand washing practices, indoor air pollution and solid waste management) was successfully conducted at the streets of Nagarkot VDC by the volunteers of Paschim Paaila under SWASH project Nagarkot. 

The street drama was organized for the success of Total Sanitation Campaign running at Nagarkot VDC starting from 28^th August to 5^th September, 2014. After some days of practice, volunteers performed their first drama in Jalpa Devi Temple in Telkot on the day of Teej, the festival of Hindu women. “I liked the drama and the message in the drama was very useful” said by one of the viewers after the drama. The feedback collected after the drama was positive and they appreciated the effort of the performers. 

The first day drama helped the volunteers to know the real scenario of the Nagarkot and were all prepared for their next performance. Accordingly the 12 shows gone fantastic with the support of local people of Nagarkot VDC and also with assistance of Mr. Rajesh Byanjankar, Project Assistant, ENPHO. 

The drama group performed dramas in different places of Nagarkot VDC including community, school, bus stop and market areas. The feedbacks collected after the drama encouraged the volunteers and the objective to make the viewer aware about complete sanitation was found to be fulfilled.

The volunteers also performed some dramas reaching to inner villages along with the Sarangi players. They added up extra flavor in enhancing the supporting environment for performing drama. The music along the drama caught the attention of the people around the village. Everybody enjoyed the drama along with the message through music.