WASH FORUM Reloaded on “Stress Management Among Youths”

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

Edited by: Paaila Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator

On 20 August 2020, Paschim Paaila in collaboration with ENPHO (Environment and Public Health Organization) organized 9^th WASH FORUM Reloaded on “Stress Management among Youths” through zoom platform. The main objective of the program was to share about stress and its effects on career development of youths, acquaint youths about how to Reduce, prevent and cope with stress as well as to share importance of psycho-social well-being. In Nepal, 40% of people are younger than 18 years of age and COVID-19 pandemic may be a stressful situation for young people regarding career development. Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. Coping with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.

Dr. Narendra Singh Thagunna, Vice President of Association of Psychologist was the speaker for the program. The session was initiated with evaluation on mental health condition of participants through a form filling process with specific questions. During the session, different types of mind exercise were conducted. The meaning of stress, cause of stress on students, consequences of student’s mental health on were mostly highlighted in the session.

Dr. Thagunna explained 6 stress management strategies to prevent from unhealthy stress coping mechanism. Also, participants were encouraged to build a positive mental health by creating healthy routine, owing your feelings, eliminating toxic influences, supporting each other, and connecting with others also shared the tips for success on life.

The program had an overwhelming participation of more than 90 participants from different part of Nepal. At the end, Dr. Thagunna addressed queries from the participants. Paaila Amrit Bista, Member, PP Batch III facilitated the overall program.

Understanding Status quo of WASH Facilities in Quarantine of Terai

Prepared by: Amrit Bista, Member, PP Batch III

Quarantine refers to the separation and restriction of movement and activities of people who are not ill but are believed to have been exposed to infections for the purpose of preventing disease transmission. Quarantines are the important measures for the control of reservoir. Government of Nepal has also made provision of quarantine for migrants who came from COVID-19 affected countries and other suspected people during the case investigation and contact tracing. In this regard, Paschim Paaila in collaboration with ENPHO organized 8^th WASH FORUM Reloaded (WFR) on “WASH facilities in Quarantine of Terai” on 24 July, 2020 on Zoom meeting platform to understand status of quo of WASH facilities in quarantine in Terai (Province 2), details on minimum service standards required for a proper WASH facilities in quarantine and required improvement of WASH facilities and possible challenges.

Mr. Niraj Giri, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer for WASH at Welthungerhilfe was resource person for the program. During the program, information and data on minimum WASH requirements in COVID-19 quarantine and isolation centers, current status of WASH in quarantine of Terai, key indicators of proper WASH, and improvement required for the current WASH status were shared highlighting on the standard of water, sanitation, hygiene and environmental cleanliness. In compliance with data, Mr. Giri shared that though quarantine centers in Terai has sufficient facilities of WASH in regard to quantity but requires improvement in quality, its proper management and awareness among users as quarantine centers lacks proper waste segregation and use of water treatment options among other WASH behaviors.

As mentioned by Mr. Giri, developing checklists for WASH facilities and behavior for monitoring and effective implementation will help in improving the WASH status of quarantine centers. Despite the present services and status of WASH in the quarantine centers, he insisted to draw focus on flood resilient quarantine center as monsoon has arrived.

With an active participation of more than 25 participants from different educational and professional background, the 8^th WFR was organized, sharing information and addressing queries of participants. Ms. Sushama Sharma, Member, PP Batch III facilitated the overall program and Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator closed the session with vote of thanks to the resource person and all the participants.

Talks on Climate Change Crisis and COVID-19 on the occasion of World Environment Day

Prepared by: Mr. Amrit Bista, Member, PP Batch III

Paschim Paaila and ENPHO, on the occasion of World Environment Day, jointly organized 7^th series of WASH FORUM Reloaded (WFR) on “Climate Change Crisis to LDCs amidst COVID-19” on 4 June 2020 on zoom meeting platform. The 7^th series of WFR was organized with an objective to share information about climate change crisis to Least Development Countries (LDCs) amidst COVID-19 with a focus on vulnerabilities of climate change to LDCs during and after this COVID-19 pandemic and possible solutions as opportunities.

Mr. Manjeet Dhakal, Head, LDC Support Team at Climate Analytics resided as resource person in the program. During the program, multiple crises facing by vulnerable countries due to COVID-19, the current context of climate change in the world and Nepal and its worsening impacts, implication for LDC graduation and about switch to clean energy were shared. Resource person also highlighted on ongoing initiative to combat climate change, climate action momentum and functional expenditure estimates in different Fiscal year for environment protection in Nepal. He also insisted that COVID-19 should be taken as opportunity and shared that lesson learnt while treating COVID-19 pandemic as an emergency helps to tackle climate change with a similar level of international coordination.

More than 35 participants attended session of WFR on zoom platform and put forward queries during Q/A session. Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila, closed the session with vote of thanks to the resource person and all participants.

Web Series of WASH FORUM Reloaded on COVID-19 and WASH

-Mr. Amrit Bista, Member, PP batch III

Paschim Paaila and Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) jointly organized 6^th series of WASH FORUM Reloaded on “COVID-19 and WASH” on 15 May 2020 on zoom meeting platform. The program was organized with an objective to share information about COVID-19 and its present status with highlight of session on linkages of COVID-19 and WASH.

Mr. Sudan Raj Panthi, National Professional Officer, Environmental Health at World Health Organization (WHO) resided as resource person in the program. During the program, epidemic curve of laboratory confirmed COVID-19, its chain of transmission and elements of standard precautions were shared. Resource person gave more focus on preventive measures in concern to hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene and insisted that maintaining hand-hygiene is key preventive measure of COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from personal hygiene information showing importance regarding decontamination, principles of cleaning and health care waste management during this state of COVID-19 pandemic was also explained by National Professional Officer of WHO Mr. Sudan Raj Panthi.

More than 55 participants actively attended session of WASH FORUM Reloaded on zoom platform and put forward queries during Q&A session.

Visited Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant at Lubhu on WASH FORUM Reloaded

Edited by: Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator, Paschim Paaila
-Ms. Janaki Shrestha, Member, Paschim Paaila Batch III

Paschim Paaila in collaboration with ENPHO has been organizing WASH Forum Reloaded (WFR), an interaction, knowledge sharing and idea generating program, every month. On 28^th February, 4^th Series of WASH Forum Reloaded on “Faecal Sludge Treatment for Ecological Sanitation and Resource Recovery” was organized with a visit at Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) at Lubhu, Lalitpur. This series of FOURM was organized with an objective to share knowledge and sensitize youths on recovery of waste as resources and to provide learning platform for youths on FSM as entrepreneurship opportunity.

Mr. Surya Prasad Ghimire, Incharge and care taker of FSTP, Lubhu facilitated to share about the information on establishment, partner organization, working mechanism, advantage and existing challenges and functionality of the system during with the visit at site. This treatment plant shows the circle “Table to Toilet, Toilet to Table”.

The treatment plant was constructed by ENPHO in support of BORDA in collaboration with Saligrahm Balgriha and Mahalaxmi Municipality. The treatment plant have capacity to treat 2 tank/week of sludge. Treated sludge gives three products as resources i.e. biogas, treated wastewater and manure. Saligrahm Balgriha have been using treated wastewater and manure in the farmland to produce vegetables which is provided to children at Balgriha. As mentioned by Mr. Ghimire, the vegetables and manure is produced in good amount and thus they have also been able to sell it. Moreover, biogas has been produced enough to cook food to family of Mr. Ghimire living in the site. However, plastics and inorganic materials present in sludge brought to treatment plant sometimes causes problem in the treatment plant.

Ms. Ranju Yadav, participants of WFR said “I found the FORUM very interesting with interaction and demonstration and I am willing to attend upcoming series of WFR”. Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila closed the program with vote of thanks to facilitator and participants. Altogether 16 youths from various educational background such as environmental science, public health and social work from different institution attended the program.

WASH FORUM Reloaded on Transforming Waste to Value: Opportunities and Challenges

Edited by: Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator, Paschim Paaila
-Mr. Amrit Bista, Member, PP Batch III

Paschim Paaila and ENPHO jointly organized 3^rd series of WASH FORUM Reloaded on “Transforming Waste to Value: Opportunities and Challenges” on 24 January, 2020 at Decentralized Solid Waste Management (DESWAM) Compost Plant also known as Compost Production and Processing Center, Shankharapur Municipality, Sakhu, Kathmandu.

The main objective of 3^rd series of WASH FORUM Reloaded is to sensitize the youths on importance and ways of conversion of waste to productive value and, to provide knowledge to maximize value from waste by promoting recycling, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill and creating green jobs through orientation along with the site observation.

Mr. Saroj Shrestha, Site manager of Blue Waste to Value (BW2V) facilitated the program to orient and for site visit for participants. The information about the establishment of BW2V, its partner organization, working mechanisms, advantages and existing challenges that BW2V is currently facing was shared during short orientation and introduction of the company. Along with introduction, Mr. Shrestha shared about future planning and strategies of BW2V to overcome the existing challenges. “Though we are not in extensive progress in present context, we are looking forward for strengthening financial status for this plant. Also, municipality has committed to support technically and financially”, said manager, Mr. Saroj Shrestha.

The participant also visited working site and observe the working processes. The Compost Production and Processing Centre collects decomposable and non-decomposable waste in different days. It collects the decomposable waste on Wednesday and Thursday. Organic shredder machine is used to make the fine pieces of the waste and de-watering machine is used to extract the liquid content present in the waste. The Effective Micro-organisms (EM) are used to decompose. After 30 days compost becomes ready for use. Such compost manure costs NRS 30/kg for local people. The compost plant also provides Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to staffs for health and safety measures which found being properly used during the visit. Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network coordinator of Paschim paaila, closed the session by providing vote of thanks to the facilitator and all participants. Altogether 18 participants joined the WASH FORUM Reloaded program from different institutes.

WASH FORUM Reloaded:Exchanging Waste to Money: Visit to Doko Recycler’s MRF

Solid Waste Management is one among major problem of Kathmandu Valley but as youth it can be viewed as an opportunity which has been tapped by youth led- start up “Doko Recyclers” as entrepreneurship opportunity. WASH Forum Reloaded (WFR) being a youth led advocacy level program to generate ideas and platform to create opportunities for economic growth has been organizing interaction program through field visits.

As a continuation of previous series on “Exchanging Waste to Money: Opportunities and Challenges”, Paschim Paaila and Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) jointly organized second series of WFR on “Exchanging Waste to Money: Visit to Doko Recycler’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)” on 7^th July 2019 at Doko Recyclers, Sanothimi, Bhaktapur with an objective to share on solid waste management as entrepreneurship opportunities with an exposure visit at MRF of Doko Recyclers’.

Ms. Stuti Sharma, Communication and Advocacy Coordinator of Doko Recyclers facilitated participants for a guided tour to MFR and shared on issue of solid waste management and input of Doko Recyclers’ for better management. The presentation also highlighted on youth advocacy for appropriate policy for solid waste management business and up-cycling waste to valuable products as small scale start up business as opportunity.  As shared during visit, Doko Recyclers’ have been segregating collected wastes as reusable and recyclable with separation of paper, plastics, hard plastics, metals and e-wastes. Recyclable wastes are sold to respective industries, reusable materials are up-cycled and e-wastes that cannot be used are dismantled as mentioned by Ms. Sharma. Altogether 9 participants attained the program.
-Mr. Aashish Maharjan

WASH FORUM Reloaded on “Exchanging waste to money: Opportunities and Challenges”

Paschim Paaila and Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) jointly organized the very first series of WASH FORUM Reloaded (WFR) on 12 May, 2019 at Pasa Yard, Chakupat, Lalitpur. The main objective of the WASH FORUM Reloaded was to provide the platform for interactions, knowledge sharing and idea generation on different environment and health issues on WASH through entrepreneurship in WASH.

Ms. Urmila Lama, Executive member of Paschim Paaila, welcome all participants in the program with a welcome speech. The very first series of WASH FORUM Reloaded was organized on topic “Exchanging waste to money: Opportunities and Challenges” under the theme “Solid Waste Management” to share about techniques and technologies used by doko recyclers for recyclable solid waste management business and to highlight possible opportunities for youths in entrepreneurship of solid waste management.

Ms. Brinda Dewan, Urban Waste Manager from Doko Recyclers as the speaker of the program highlighted motivation for start-up business on recyclable solid waste management and associated issues and challenges faced in the business of recyclable solid waste management. Ms. Dewan also drew focus of participants towards lack of recycling factories for waste products such as glass, motherboard and bulbs as possible opportunity for willing to work in the sector of recyclable solid waste management business. During the program, the opportunity for youth was focused on advocacy for appropriate policy for solid waste management business and up cycling of waste to valuable products as small scale start up business.

WASH FORUM Reloaded was brought as version 60.1 of WASH FORUM. WASH FORUM was a monthly interaction forum for knowledge sharing and advocacy regarding water, sanitation and hygiene and disasters/epidemics as social issues, not merely health or, environment issues since April, 2010 in a topic on concerned issues of the time.  With new approach to WASH FORUM, WASH FORUM reloaded will be organized based on the broader theme for 3 to 4 series in specific topic fitting in the theme.

Also during the program, the winners of Facebook Photo Competition organized on the occasion of World Water Water Day 2019 on theme “Leaving No One Behind: Faecal Sludge Management for Safe Water” were appreciated with the certificate and gifts by Ms. Kamala K.C., initiator of Paschim Paaila. Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, President of Paschim Paaila briefed about WASH FORUM, concept of WASH FORUM Reloaded and thanked the participants.

Altogether, 35 youths, WASH volunteers and WASH practitioners attended the program with interactive session. Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila facilitated the overall program.