Community based training on homemade sanitary pad making

Prepared by: Ms. Punam Chauguthi, Member, Paschim Paaila Batch III

Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) is major concern for marginalized group of girls/women who usually have to suffer physically, socially and emotionally such as missing out schools, reproductive health problems, and restrictions in houses/temples. However with better MHM knowledge, resources and practice, these issues can get lower significantly. Thus, Paschim Paaila in collaboration with Madhe Nepal Municipality, Suryapal Ward-3, Lamjung, organized community based MHM and homemade sanitary pad making training on 2^nd - 6^th March, 2020 to Dalit Women Group in Lamjung. The program was organized to aware women group on menstrual hygiene management and to train them on homemade sanitary pad making with an ultimate expectation to have commercialization of homemade sanitary pads to support girls/women for better MHM resources and to support local community for economic improvement.

The community based five days training focused on information sharing on Menstrual Hygiene Management and Sanitary pad (Sanghi) making, theoretically and practically. Apart from engaging participants in making of homemade sanitary pad, the sessions of training was made interactive and participatory with sharing of personal experience and cultural practice sharing regarding menstruation and menstrual health, misconception on menstruation, story-telling and demonstration of handwashing.

Altogether 16 women from Dalit Women Group of the municipality participated in the program. The training was facilitated by Paaila Punam Chauguthi, Paaila Sagar Gosai and Ms. Saraswoti Basnet. Paaila Punam Chauguthi and Paaila Sagar Gosai are members of Paschim Paaila Batch III and Ms. Saraswoti Basnet is trainer from Bansighat Community, Kathmandu who attended the training on MHM and Homemade Sanitary Pad Making organized by Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO).

Ms. Anjali B.K., one of the participants said “This five days training was very effective especially to the women of village who are always backward in any activities. By this training, we got knowledge on menstruation process, menstrual health, homemade sanitary pad making and additionally, processes of water purification at household level and importance of proper/safe sanitation.”

Drama Charity for MHM Campaign

Drama Charity for MHM Campaign

Huge mass of energetic people gathered at Mandala Theater on 7^th June, 2014 to contribute for Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Campaign & enjoy drama charity entitled “Encounter in Umbugland”.

The main objective of this charity show was to raise fund for “Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Campaign” which is initiated by Paschim Paaila at Government Schools of Sindhupalchowk district. Around 180 people joined to support the campaign at Mandala Theater and enjoyed the drama with the collection of Rs. 15000 reducing the show charge.

As many students of government schools are still unaware about menstrual hygiene, providing these facts and making the MHM campaign functional, Paschim Paaila had launched the charity show. The scenario of the drama was about the political condition and even highlighted sanitation status of the country. 

The show began with welcome remark and objective sharing by Mr. Buddha Bajracharya Network Coordinator, Paschim Paaila at the theater hall which was full of audience representing from different organizations and institutions.

At the end of the show, Mr. Bhushan Tuladhar, Regional Technical Advisor, UN-Habitat appreciated Paschim Paaila for initiating the MHM campaign engaging youth and also wished for the successful steps ahead.

Menstrual Hygiene Management: An emerging issue

“Menstrual Hygiene Management: An emerging issue”

Paschim Paaila organized regular interaction program WASH FORUM May series on 30^th May 2014. This time the topic was “Menstrual Hygiene Management: An emerging issue”. Celebrating World Menstrual Hygiene Day- 2014 for the first time in the world on May 28, Paschim Paaila brought down this issue in the forum with the participation of 42 participants.

The forum was very interactive and participants were cooperative with resource person Ms. Kamal Tara Bajracharya, Youth and Adolescent Program Manager, FPAN and another resource person Ms. Kamala KC, Consultant, Water Aid Nepal. During the session participants raised their queries regarding the current scenario of toilets in university’s colleges and also of public toilet which are not female friendly. 

The session was carried out by our resource person on the components of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and related it with Education, Health, Empowerment and Rights.

In this forum, volunteers were appreciated with certificates by Network Coordinator Mr. Buddha Bajracharya for successful conduction of Menstrual Hygiene Campaign on the occasion of International Menstrual Hygiene Day – 2014. At last, the session was concluded with the sharing of some experience of participants regarding menstrual hygiene which was really fruitful following with group Photos.

A Day Training on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM)

One day training on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) was successfully conducted on 24^th May, 2014, organized by Paschim Paaila in collaboration with ENPHO and Khwopa College at Khwopa college hall. There were total 24 female youth participants from B.Sc Environmental Science stream. The objectives of the training were planning, MHM orientation, preparation of homemade sanitary pad and its use, etc. in cyclic process as homemade sanitary pads are very much environmental friendly as it could be reused, there is no chemical reagents used and it’s very friendly to handle as well.

The program was coordinated by Paschim Paaila. The facilitators for the whole program were Ms. Kamal Tara Bajracharya (Adolescent and Youth Program Manager, FPAN), Mr. Buddha Bajracharya (Network Coordinator, Paschim Paaila), Ms. Urmila Lama (Campaign Coordinator, Paschim Paaila) and Ms. Renu Duwal (member, Paschim Paaila).  

The main objectives of the training on MHM was to make participants able to know about Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) link with Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM), WASH and MHM, Use and Importance of Homemade Sanitary Pads and Preparation of Homemade Sanitary Pads. The session was conducted with the help of different techniques like PowerPoint presentation, visuals and demonstration as well. All the participants were provided materials and were guided to prepare homemade sanitary pads. The participants showed their active participation throughout the training hour. Discussion was done and feedback was collected at the end of session. 

The program was concluded by Mr. Buddha Bajracharya presenting tokan of love to Mr. Kamal Raj Gosai (Incharge, HoD Environmental Science, Khwopa College). 

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”.