Organized WASH-CO Workshop I Series 2020

Edited by: Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator
Prepared by: Ms. Susma Sharma, Member, PP Batch III

Paschim Paaila and Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO), jointly organized three days “WASH-CO Workshop I Series 2020” from 16^th to 18^th May, 2020 through Zoom platform. This is the very first workshop organized with an objective to enhance the capacity and knowledge on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and its linkage to COVID-19 to empower youths on WASH and COVID-19 to support in preventive measures and bring youths as change maker.

The three day workshop covered sessions related to WASH, COVID-19, hygiene behavior and practice, impact of COVID-19 on SDGs and social media use through presentations from WASH professionals and media professional. The three day workshop moreover remained participatory with interactions and discussions with and among participants. Altogether 40 participants were selected through an application to attend the workshop from various educational background including public health, environmental science, social work, engineering and bio-technology. 

“Participating in the workshop allowed me to gain unknown facts in regard to WASH and COVID-19 and beyond the general information. Thank you Paschim Paaila for providing the opportunity” Ritendra Babu.

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.”

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). 

Training on Household Water Treatment and Safe storage

Training on Household Water Treatment and Safe storage 

Three days training on Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS) was conducted with the mutual effort of Paschim Paaila and ENPHO WET-C and with the support of CAWST from 27^th to 29^th January 2014 at ENPHO hall.
With total of 17 participants, the main objective of the training was to capacitate youth from Paschim Paaila to effectively deliver information on household water treatment and safe storage among household and community. Youths from Paschim Paaila, Rotaract club of Kathmandu mid-town, Rotaract club of Dillibazar and NYCA were the participants of the training.

The training included the sessions on WASH status of Nepal and world, water induced diseases, safe sanitation and hand washing, point of use option of household water treatment and their operation and maintenance along with exercise to help the community to choose the best method of household treatment and the preparation of the action plan.